HN 64 
,M25 
Copy 1 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



021 653 974 6 








N 64 
1125 
lopy 1 



-OR 



Glimpse by an Observer of the past, 

present and probable future of 

our country, politically. 

WILLIAM McLUEN. 

i $ 

Coming Events Cast their Shadows 
before them. 



ENTERED ACCORDING TO ACT OF CONGRESS 

by Wm. McLuen. 



PRICE 25 CENTS. 



r/ 



Sent post paid on receipt of price. Address Wm. McLuen, 
Perry, Iowa. 



PERRY, IOWA, 
Chief Steam Printing House, 

1891 






PEEPACE. 



A disposition to criticise is not generally regarded as evidence of an 
Angel in disguise, and this modest little pamphlet may unluckily be con- 
strued by some, as inclined to find fault with our social and business 
customs generally. But certainly no doubt need exist in the minds of 
any as to what is intended in its attempt to solve our political party 
problem. 

The writer has no apology or excuse to offer for its style or imper- 
fections, but lack of ability to do better, and can only expect that it will 
receive all the attention it may seem to deserve. The manner adopted 
in presenting the subject, it is hoped however, will prove sufficiently 
novel and interesting to accomplish in some degree the design of its pub- 
lication, and help secure the attention of others more able to a consider- 
ation of our political destiny. 

It may be ridiculed, or in a so-called charitable way, considered un- 
worthy of notice by partisan interests, and many who are unfortunately 
as I believe, controlled too much by the party lash. But however this 
may be, I will trust to the sentiment of a people, who have been long 
enough defrauded by political buncombe, and those who prefer to follow 
the dictates of their own judgement for the general good, in preference 
to mere party strife, to indorse any and every effort in a fair way to 
avert a national calamity, that will as surely come as the moons nocturn- 
al appearance to our planet, if not prevented by the prompt intelligent 
effort aud co-operation of the laboring men of our country, and those in 
sympathy with them. 



Looking- Forward. 



The number and diversity of questions, considered and discussed. 

and the ways and methods adopted to advertise and boom what we call 
business interests, and the schemes invented and practiced to get gaiB 

and fame in this fast age of sharp competition and strife, is remarkable, 
and if not a struggle for existence, in which the weaker go to the wall. 
it certainly may be considered one for financial, social and business su- 
premacy, and one in which those who succeed are generally admired, 
and those who fail find little sympathy. 

Xor is the average American citizen much disposed to trouble him- 
self, as a rule, investigating, or even considering the character of voca- 
tion or causes that usually lead to such results, before bestowing his ap- 
probation or manifesting his aversion. Indeed there seems to be some- 
thing inherent in most human nature tluit inclines to admire success, 
and look with cold disfavor upon failure, regardless of the character of 
the cause or contestants. 

The energy, ability and courage that encounters and overcomes great 
opposition or difficulties, even in a bad cause, often elicits a feeling 
among the masses of humanity quite congenial to the vanity of the evil, 
doer. But a weak vacilating effort and consequent failure, even in a ! 
good cause, is quite generally looked upon, even by those who may ap- 
prove the motive, with a kind of morbid sympathy that is much more 
humiliating to the sensitive mind than severe censure. 

The shrewd and tricky bank cashier, for example, who steals thirty or 
forty thousand dollars from his con riding employers, and succeeds in 
getting away, and in eluding pursuit and appreheusiom is quite gener- 
ally regarded with a feeling of awe, akin to a simile admiration. But 
the poor degenerate wretch known to have stolen a dollar, or even a loaf' 
of bread, though he may have been goaded to do so by the pangs of 
misfortune or poverty, will generally find these fluttering impulses to- 
ward him a very scarce commodity. But after all what is such a wan- 
dering and tendency of the human mind, but an evidence of the oc- 
casional inconsistency and frailty of human nature. Certainly sober 
thought would in this case decide that censure and merited punishment 
was justly due in the first case, and sympathy and prudent surveillance 
in the latter. And such inconsistencies can furnish an interesting topic 
only to the unhappy theorist whose despondent nature vainly seeks re- 



LOOKING FORWARD. 

lief in brooding oyer human imperfections and tendency to wrong doing, 
and the inconsistencies thus complained of is often but the product of 
perverted imagination, for the admiration thus excited is not the real 
article, but a morbid deflection of the real impulse, that serves to show 
how strong and predominant a characteristic of the human mind, admi- 
ration for commendable success is. Beneath these riffles of popular 
whims, will generally be found a solid and enduring stratum of just, 
or real admiration for the ability and success that makes the world 
better, and lifts humanity to a higher plain, that those who are wise 
will prefer to consider, and find a much more rational, as well as a more 
pleasant and encouraging reflection. One is a faculty of the human 
mind, that continue to grow stronger, as mankind becomes more intelli- 
gent and apprciative. The other is as unreal in practice as in concep- 
tion. The admiration that is real, does not only exist while the effort 
or success that prompt its action is predominant, but it will'also rush to 
the rescue should defeat or misfortune befall a faithful effort in a laudable 
undertaking, and generously provide for those who have thus proved 
worthy of its exercise and protection. 

But the so-called admiration excited by the prize-fighter's skill , 
muscle and pluck, vanishes like a shadow when he lies bleeding, pros- 
trate and defeated under the inhuman blows of a more powerful 
animal. 

The intelligence, enterprise, patience and pluck manifested by Cyrus 
W. Field in overcoming the great obstacle that confronted him in laying 
the Atlantic cable, and the success he achieved in that great and laud- 
able undertaking will be forever honored and respected on earth, and in 
Heaven. But the kind of intelligence, enterprise and pluck manifested 
bv Jesse James, and the success he achieved, will be charitably erased 
from the record of human events, as a humiliating and shameful evi- 
dence of man's depravity. 

And so we find it in all the traits of human character, deserving 
just, or real admiration. Each have their bogus counterparts or mor- 
bid deflections that the freaks of fancy are liable to mistake, or accept 
in lieu of the genuine article, just as some may be deceived into accept- 
ing a counterfeit bank bill, or bogus coin as an equivalent for something 
of real value. It may also be observed that in the range and variety of 
what is practically considered legitimate business in our country, we 
have a heterogenious anomaly of means, methods and waj^s, that clearly 
demonstrate that the inventive genius of our citizens is in a high state 
of development, and evidently requires the exercise of judgment in what 
we call business affairs generally, or in default thereof, be left to enjoy 
the experience that rash and negligent methods has brought to many an 



LOOKING FORWAHD. 

adventurer. For the unscrupulous vender is aware, and the well disposed 
should be, that in a business sense, no other country in Christendom 
perhaps, can show up a larger per cent of what is known as dead beats 
and unreliable buyers. This may seem like looking on the dark side. 
but we must do it, but in the belief that time will bring a remedy. And 
on the other hand the well disposed patron of business can safely con- 
clude that in addition to the natural desire to succeed in any legitimate 
business, common to most persons, a feverish zeal and struggle for busi- 
ness supremacy has grown up, that under the influence of the sharp com- 
petition and strife such a scramble for gain naturally engenders, often 
leads to extravegant methods to obtain the end sought, that are some- 
times so palpably inconsistent with facts and common sense, as to make 
it appear strange that any one endowed with even ordinary judgment 
could be thus deceived. For in addition to the many schemes concoct- 
ed and carried into effect to mislead the curious and unwary, and fur- 
nish them experience in exchange for their money. There is in the 
general methods adopted in advertising and trying to popularize busi- 
ness interests, an inconsistency, extravegance and tendency to mislead, 
often too rediculous for serious comment. Cases are not very rare where 
the advertising is much more expensive than the article advertised, and 
of the thousands of different articles of various degrees of merit and de- 
merit kept on sale, and the many articles prepared for sale, or got up 
by different parties, and all for the same purpose. Each is more or less 
extensively advertised as the very best and cheapest of its kind, and 
each is represented by a liberal number of earnest and energetic ven- 
ders, who are all fully prepared to prove this to our entire satsfaetion, 
if we will but kindly favor them with our attention. There are so 
many anxious aspirants for business success, continually singing this 
song, with occasional variations, and novel attractions that every nos- 
trum vender and cheap John jewelry and trash racket join in the cho- 
rus, each blowing his horn, or somebody else's horn, and all intended, 
they say, to protect their customers and induce others to become such. 
'This, although but a mere intimation of the many ways and methods 
practiced, may seem rediculous to sober thought, but it is so, and the 
fact that it is, is conclusive evidence that there is a sufficient number of 
persons, who can in this way be induced to spend their money, to make 
such w^ays and methods profitable, for otherwise they would cease to ex- 
ist. Hence, the remedy is evident, educate the masses. Complaining 
and fault rinding is, as a rule, very disagreeable, and seldom does any 
good. At any rate, all this and more too is nothing more than might be 
reasonably expected, when w r e consider the number and variety of the 
interests involved, and the natural bent of diversified human nature in 



LOOK I NO F( > R WA It D . 

what seems to be, an irrepressible struggle for supremacy, in a country 
where it is generally considered a free-for-all race, and where the intel- 
lectual, social and business affairs of life are comparatively unrestrained 
by law or custom, and one naturally affording such stimulus to trade, 
and as a sequence, as natural, so many victims to shrewd and unscrpu- 
lous traffic, of course it is the province of law to protect, so far as pos- 
sible, citizens from the ravages of fraud, in the guise of business. But 
it is not done in this country, and the remedy for this neglect, must be 
applied when needed. It must be admitted too, that while business 
matters are conducted in a legitimate way, the right to a free exercise of 
judgment and tact must be conceded, and if through lack of such quali- 
fications, or from other causa, any one of mature years and legally qual- 
ified is loser in their deals, they have no just cause for complaint on this 
score. Admission to the school of experience must be as free as any 
other, to accommodate those who seem to prefer it, of course it is generally 
an expensive one, but at worst it but relieves its pupils of that they seem 
disqualified to use to any better advantage. But their rights as citizens 
still remain, and if there is any thing in them that even experience dearly 
bought will bring out, the genius of our form of government furnishes 
every inducement possible to profit by such experience and honorably re- 
gain lost ground, and no one would seriously claim that temporary ex- 
cesses in business affairs would ever endanger the rights and privileges 
of any class of citizens in our country. 

But When we come to look over the field of politics, and find the po- 
litical organs grinding out the same old tune year after year at every elec- 
tion, that has so long and so often deceived the confiding party voter, and 
still in successful use, we are not sure we can say as much. And as we 
investigate we are amazed at the results, and begin to think that in pol- 
itics, as conducted, will be found the chief cause of such vast difference 
in the worldly condition of citizens. For after duly considering and ad- 
mitting the fact, that some have far reaching business sagacity, tact and 
energy, and others lazy, indolent and shiftless, we yet wonder why it is 
that in a country like this, some have piled up mountains of wealth and 
called millionaires, and others, said to be their equals before the law, 
are compelled, from sheer necessity, to toil and drudge all their lives to 
obtain a mere subsistence, and often a very humble and dreary one at 
that. If however, none but the lazy, shiftless drones w^ere thus situated, 
we would say. it is as good as you deserve, but still continue to wonder 
iiow any man can start in business and accumulate even one million 
dollars in asingle iifetibaa in a fair and legitimate way. But when we 
find that many hard working, industrious citizens, who are intelligent 
and sensitive, are thus struggling to support themselves and families in 



LOOKING FORWARD. 

this free and glorious country of ours, we ask why this vast and sus- 
picious difference that is becoming so painfully evident in the worldly 
condition of American citizens. It certainly is not because the provis- 
ions made by our fore-fathers, for the protection and benefit of the 
masses, were not sufficiently wise, just and liberal. Our American 
Declaration of Independence, and National Constitution was all that any 
fair minded man could ask. Every thoughtful believer in personal lib- 
erty considered the sentiments therein contained, the very acme of hu- 
man generosity and wisdom. When these principles were promulgated 
and successfully defended, one hundred and fourteen years ago, their 
brave and generous originators and defenders could reasonably expect 
that the oppressed poor, who had so long suffered under the iron heel of 
tyranny, and subjected to oppressive taxation, unjust discrimination, 
poverty and starvation, without means of redress, will henceforth in 
America have a fair chance to assert their inalienable rights, and defend 
their interests. Here there will be no bowing or cringing, or timid ser- 
vility of humiliated manhood, or honesty in soiled garments, to aristo- 
cratic and arrogant ducles, inheriting wealth wrung by their sires from 
the hard earned pittance of the toiling masses. Every citizen, no mat- 
ter what his station in life, if legitimate and honorable, it was reason- 
ably expected, would have an equal right to the good things of life, with 
every other citizen. All shall have a say in making the laws that shall 
govern them, and in selecting the persons to make, interpret and ex- 
ecute such laws. Education will be free to all alike, and in religious 
matters, each can believe just as much, and just as little as they feel 
disposed too, and of the creed or kind that to them may seem most ac- 
ceptable. Every citizen will be perfectly free to make the most of any 
commendable ability they may possess, in a fair and legitimate way. 
In short,, the people will constitute the government, and those they se- 
lect to administer it shall be their public servants while so doing. 
And while of course disposition and abitity will be different, under any 
conditions these principles and privileges, will secure at least a compe- 
tence to all w T ho are even moderately intelligent arid industrious, and 
effectually bar extremes of wealth and poverty. For the laboring classes 
will always, constitute a majority, and having the power in their own 
hands, they, will surely effectually check any tendency to great wealth. 
This may be 'considered certainl} 7 as but a reasonable anticipation of re- 
sults, when bur government was founded . And now in the year 1890, 
after one hundred and fourteen years has elapsed since these privileges 
were promulgated, successfully defended and transmitted to us, it would 
certainly be a considera+e and fair question to ask, what has been, 
or is now the result of these wise and generous provisions on citizens in 



LOOKING FORWARD. 

the humbler walks of life, and for whose protection and benefit they 
were chiefly intended? Have results been, or are they now such as 
might then have been reasonably expected, and if not, why not? Who 
will answer. 

There is a beautiful legend connected with Mohammedan faith, tiiat 
to some might serve as a reminder in answering these questions. It 
represents justice as a strong and firm man standing upon a rock, solid 
and enduring. An Angel stands upon his right shoulder, representing 
truth with the book of life. And on his left shoulder, another Angel, 
representing mercy. When therefore a follower of the prophet is guilty 
of neglect of duty to his family, his religion or his country's interests, 
Justice sternly commands the Angel on his right shoulder to write it 
down, and the Angel on his left shoulder weeps. Or if it is true, as 
many good people believe, that the spirits of departed friends are hover- 
ing around us in times of difficulty and danger, powerless to help us, 
but anxiously watching our every act, and rejoicing when we become 
vigilant and strong in defence of justice, and downcast and sorrowful 
when we act in a deceitful or sinister way with our fellow men, what 
are we to suppose would be the feelings of some of our revolutionary 
patriots, who labored so long and so faithfully to secure to us these privi- 
leges, and were thus enabled now to witness the trickery and scheming 
in one State or Congressional Political Convention and Halls of Legisla- 
tion, or the schemes of fraud under the sanction of legislation, institut- 
ed by rings, trusts, monopolies and other combinations, to rob the toil- 
ing masses, and then witness the patient submission of their victims. 
And now in order to make this matter as plain as we can, we will ask 
permission to go a little farther and observe that these spirits of departed 
friends, as many people also believe and say they have witnessed, also 
appear in the flesh at times, just as they were while living here, and 
are thus enabled under certain conditions to advise and direct, when 
necessary, those in whose welfare they take especial interest, and who 
are yet dwellers on this mundane sphere. ^NTow let us suppose for the 
sake of illustration, that a few of our revolutionary patriots who helped 
originate and signed our Declaration of Independence, and then pledged 
all their earthly possessions, their honor and their lives to stand by the 
principles there laid down, and to make this pledge good, voluntarily ex- 
posed themselves to the most depressing hardships, suffering and dan- 
ger for six dreary years for our protection and benefit, were now per- 
mitted, to be in this way, sent here from another sphere, as a committee 
of observation and investigation, to ascertain and report as to w T hat, as 
a nation, we have done since their time to protect, preserve and defend 
the rights and privileges they then transmitted to us. We will say this 
is made known and their coming is announced, w-hat a bustle there 



LOOKING FOKWAED. 

would be, the plain and unpretending nature of the old veterans will 
soon have an experience they little dreamed of in their day. Their nat- 
ural aversion to aristocratic and arrogant pomp must soon undergo a 
severe test, and their cherished hope and expectations of the deliver- 
ance of the masses from legalized injustice and oppression is doomed to 
sad disappointment. But in the meantime, extensive and hurried prep- 
arations are made for their reception. They are met on their arrival, by 
the President and all the national dignitaries, rich capitalists and mer- 
chant princes, as they are called by adulation, railroad magnates and 
those of other rich corporations, and millionaires, are all there in gor-. 
geous array to greet and receive them. The President, in behalf of the 
citizens of these United States, tenders them a hearty welcome. Mem- 
bers of his cabinet, senators, congressmen and their high toned, aristo- 
cratic friends and acquaintances, are all profuse in their expressions of 
delight, at being thus enabled to see the men of whom they had read so 
much, and so sincerely admired. All the elite of aristocratic and fash- 
ionable dudes have richly cushioned seats, to hear and admire all this el- 
oquent flattery. The somewhat bewildered veterans of ? 76, are now es- 
corted to the national capital, as the guests of the President, and intro- 
duction after introduction is anxiously sought after by the gorgeous 
throng, and each has his piece of flattery prepared. The Press and the 
Forum vie with each other in extolling the virtues and heroism of our 
distinguished visitors. Devout prayers are offered up and anthems of 
praise sung for them in all the fashionable churches. Feasts, flattery 
and ceremony follow T in constant succession, and all the large cities are 
sending their wealthy and official splendor with the most urgent invita- 
tions for the old patriots to visit them. But amid all the feasting, pom- 
pons flattery and display, the old patriots of '76 are evidently not happy. 
This is noticed and talked of, and the cause charitably assigned to 
their rural proclivities, and lack of culture. But these conclusions be- 
gin to seem somewhat doubtful, when on receiving a very polite invita- 
tion from a millionaire to attend a banquet. The stern old chairman of 
the committee sends this startling reply: We must be excused, we can- 
not attend your banquent, we are heartily tired of all this confusion and 
extravagant vanity, and must now insist on being let alone, so that we 
can attend to the business we were sent to look after. This was a 
cooler and had the desired effect, and the old patriots are now getting 
down to work. Faithful assistants have been selected in all the states 
and cities. Reports begin to come in, and they are astonished to find 
that the population of our country has increased from 3,000,000 to nearly 
63,000,000 of people, or 21 persons to every 1 in their time. Their as- 
tonishment increases when they learn the enormous increase in natural 
and acquired wealth, and the many wonderful improvements in what 
was supposed to be science, the arts, mechanics and agriculture, and 
in all that is supposed to relieve human toil, and add to the comfort and 
conveniencies of life. The railroads, the telegraph, the telephone, elec- 



10 LOOKING FORWARD. 

trie lights, electric motors, automatic machinery and the vast products 
of the great west is all reported , and their astonishment has become be- 
wildering. But they at once commence to make out and arrange their 
report, and gradually their bewilderment gives way to a feeling of ex- 
uberant joy at the wonderful growth and prosperity of our country. 
And when it is supposed their work is nearly completed, invitation after 
invitation is recieved from national dignitaries, rich corporations and 
millionaires, entreating them to favor them with their presence, at a 
grand banquet, to be given in their honor, before their departure. And 
after talking the matter over, the old patriots concluded that although 
not to their liking, they would have to accept some of the invitations. 
But said one. citizens of our country have grown so rich and proud, I d© 
not feel at home among them. Yes said another, such extravagant dis- 
play of wealth and pomp seems to me entirely out of place in our 
country. And it is contaminating and dangerous to the perpetuity of 
our free institutions, It would be, replied the old chairman, if the 
wealth was not so evenly divided, but they all seem to be rich. But 
even then if it prompts them to act so much like the abominable aristo- 
crats of Europe, the rising generation ought to be taught to despise such 
arrogant pomp. And how under heavens any of them ever succeed in 
accumulating even one half million dollars by dint of honest effort or 
fair, legitimate business is more than I can understand. And yet I 
find some are estimated to. be worth from $10,000,000 to $100,000,000. 
But our country will never be in safe hands while millionaires are al- 
lowed to grow to such extremes. For where one extreme exists, it is 
very liable to produce the other in time. And when we go to this pom- 
pous spludge they call a banquet, it will seem to me like aping and try- 
ing to imitate the very practices we abhorred and rebelled against in '76. 
A magnificent outfit now arrives to convey them to the banquet. Here 
they come said the old chairman, and the biggest. spludge of all. They 
reluctantly consent to be waited on and helped to a seat in the carriage. 
When they arrive, another such ordeal still more pompous has to be en- 
dured. And as they are conducted into the grand apartments they are 
bewildered at the dazzling display of wealth and luxury. Complimen- 
tary addresses, toasts and nattering responses follow the gorgeous repast, 
and finally the committee are called upon, and expected to express their 
approbation. The old chairman reluctantly arose, and in a firm, 
earnest way said: I dislike to take part in any exercises when I am 
not in sympathy with the proceedings or customs. And I cannot say that 
I am, here. 1 would much prefer to say something more pleasant for 
you, if I could consistently do so. But I cannot afford to smother my 
own convictions of duty, however anxious I may be to please you. 
Such gorgeous displays f of wealth and fashion I am not accustomed to 
seeing, nor do 1 admire such as some do. We have said in our report 
however, that the vast growth and unheard of wealth of our country 



LOOKING FOKWAUI). 11 

and citizens, for a time completely bewildered us with astonishment. 
And now with a hope that you will all act sensible, and not allow pros- 
perity to make you vain and arrogant, we will at the close of this meet- 
ing bid you farewell, and return with our repeat to those who sent us 
here. These candid and sensible remarks were not very favorably re- 
lieved, and w v as attributed to tiie old man's crude nature, and all went 
on as before. The festivities were finally about to conclude with some 
brilliant display, when all at once a sensation was caused by a very 
plainly dressed, though a sedate and sensible looking man walking up to 
the closely observed chairman of the committee, who had thus ad- 
dressed them. And in a very informal and plain, common sense way 
asked him for his attention. This brought a scornful titter from most 
of the gorgeous assembly. And ibis man, we will call him observer, 
was looked upon as an undignified and rude intruder. But the com- 
mittee were differently impressed. The hrm bearing, and Hashing eye 
of the stranger, revealed to the old patriots something that reminded 
them of old Faneuil Hall in days of yore. And the mountebanks and 
dudes of the fashionable throng felt mortified, When they seen that the 
old veterans of ? 76 were much more anxious to talk with the stranger 
than with them. But the old man had no apology to otter, and at once 
announced his intention of seeing the stranger in a private apartment. 
And as they retired for the purpose, it required the efforts of all the 
more considerate in the assembly to suppress the intended hiss. When 
they reached their room the old chairman grasped observer by the hand, 
and in the most sincere and fervent manner addressed him thus. My 
friend we are glad you have come. You are the first real and natural 
looking American I have had the pleasure of seeing since our arrival. 
And such you surely must be. We have been feasted, toasted and tor- 
tured by these nabobs, until our weariness and disappointment has be- 
come depressing. Hence, I repeat I am glad you have come. For we 
long for congenial fellowship, and now pray tell us who you are, where 
you have come from, and what' you desire, Observer paused and re- 
plied; I am an American citizen. 1 have come from the west, and I de- 
sire that you should return to our country s tried and truest friends, 
with a, true report of the condition of the masses of our people in this 
country. And not with the delusion and erroneous impression you have 
obtained in the lap of luxury and illegitimate wealth. Just what we 
want responded the patriots in unison, go on. Observer continued: 
These gorgeous displays you have witnessed is a spludge of those, who 
are Americans only in name. And most of the means used to bolster 
them up, have been rung by extortion and class legislation, from the 
toiling masses and unfortunate poor. A burst of indignant resentment 



VI LOOKING FORWARD. 

on the part of the patriots follows this statement, and the eyes of the 
old chairman flash like a meteor, as he interrupts Observer by saying in 
an excited manner: Excuse me my friend, can it be possible that such 
humiliating conditions can exist in our country. Observer again paused 
to control his feelings, and then in subdued, but firm tones, said: My 
friends, America is to-day a country of millionaires and mendicants of 
vast wealth and extreme poverty, of oppressive laws and burdensome 
taxation, of unjust discrimination, of rings, of trusts, of monopolies, of 
many unfaithful public servants who make and execute laws solely in 
the interest of these rich nabobs, who have been entertaining you, 
and others like them, and seem to think and act as though the labor- 
ing man, or farmer in poor circumstances had no rights worthy of their 
respect or attention. After this declaration, a feeling of sorrow, mingled 
with disappointment and indignation, is plainly visible on the counte- 
nance of the old patriots. And Observer is so affected thereby, that he 
stops to contemplate in silence what is too affecting for utterance. 
After a few moments silence. Observer adds: You have been feasted 
in the mansions of the opulent, the millionaires, the railroad magnates 
and other rich corporations. The heads and various branches of pamp 
ered aristocrats, and political pets have shown you one side of this pic- 
ture, in a way you admit has dazzled and bewildered you with its lavish 
splendor. I now ask the privilege of showing you the other side, just as 
it is, and then you can form your own conclusions. Just what we came 
for, and just what we want responded the old patriot. And sorrowful 
and disheartening as your statements are, if such is the case, we want 
to know it from personal observation, and we beg of you to assist us in 
obtaining facts in this way. Just the opportunity I desire said Ob- 
server. He then takes the committe to the west. They arrive when 
the sun is shining low in the western horizon, on a clear, cold day in 
November. Here said Observer, pointing to the vast area around them,, 
mostly in corn fields. Here is naturally the most fertile country in 
America, it is occupied oy a people that will compare favorably with 
any others I know of in a like avocation, for physical vigor, intelli- 
gence and industry. But they are generally in poor circumstances, and 
some of them, at times, hardly able to procure the necessaries of life. 
The old patriot looked confuse;!, and as though he was trying to con- 
ceal a feeling of doubt. As to the truth of this statement, the country 
is evidently a fine and productive one said he. But I cannot understand, 
how the high taxes and political corruption you speak of. could be op- 
pressive enough, or mean enough to keep such people as you describe 
from being comfortably situated in so tine a country and be tolerated 
or born by any who are worthy being considered Americans. Well I 
mean to be truthful with you saiJ Observer, but unfortunate experience 



LOOKING FORWARD 

may tend to warp my judgment. But as you prefer to observe toi 
yourselves you will not be confined bo accepting m> statements. Excuse 

me my friend, I do not mean to doubt youi statements. But BUCh con- 
ditions are so shamefully different from any thing we had reason to 
pect, that I cannot help but doubt any statement of proof short of posi- 
tive evidence. Well I take that into consideration, said Observer, and 1 
will give you an opportunity to see for yourself. We will stop awhile 
With the tillers of this fertile soil, and see how they live, and hear what 
they have to say. It is now dusk and Observer | ointfl to a farm house 
close by. Here is a farmer's house, said lie. who seems to be a full av- 
erage in comfort and circumstances. We will stop with him to-night. 
They suit the action to the words, and start for the house. As they ap- 
proach the humble cottage they observe two or three half clad children 
apparently shivering with cold, carrying water, procuring fuel ftc., to 
snpply the wants of the family. A look of troubled surprise is plainly 
evident on the old patriot's face. They enter the house and find these 
children's mother busy preparing a frugal supper for her family, after 
having worked hard all day, at the sewing machine and wash tub. as 
she afterwards told them. She greets them kindly, though timidly, as 
they enter her humble home, and seems confused and humiliated for 
want of means to provide each with even a rude seat, and apologised 
as best she could for not having her household affairs in a more inviting 
condition. This poor woman had been brought up in a more pleasant 
and comfortable home. But this fact only added to the sting of humili- 
ation in her present condition. The veterans of '76, exchange signifi- 
cant glances, but make every effort in their power to appear sociable and 
contented to relieve the woman's embarassment. And Observer seemed 
perfectly at home, and kept up a conversation with the housewife about 
their social, domestic and business relations. Aiming thereby to obtain 
all the information he could for his companions, and to which they lis- 
tened with close attention and evident surprise. Finally after listening 
to the woman's answers to Observer's questions, as to how hard they 
worked, how much they raised and how little they got for it. the high 
taxes and high interest on their mortgaged home, and the high prices, 
because a heavy tax called protection was added, they had to pay for 
most of their necessaries, the old patriot could not retain his feelings 
longer, and abruptly broke out with the inqury: Madame, where is 
your husband? He is out in the field husking corn sir, she meekly re- 
plied. It is nearly dark and he will soon be in with his last load, for to- 
day. There he comes now, just drove up to the crib. The committee 
and Observer on being thus informed, all arise and propose a talk with 
him. This affords the poor woman relief, by giving her a chance to 



14 LOOKING FORWARD. 

straighten things up while they are out. As they approach her husband 
the usual greeting takes place, and they soon observe that he too is clad 
in cheap and ragged clothes, and apparrently shivering with cold. They 
question him about the extent and quality of his crops &c, and he 
answers promptly, but seems to be wondering what they have come for. 
Observer tries to make him feel at ease, but he, realizing what had yet 
to be done, -was rather disinclined to continue the conversation, and 
asked them to go in out of the cold, that he had yet to attend to his 
team, feed the hogs, milk the cows and do the rest of the chores, and 
then they would have some supper. After they started for the house, 
and all was still, the old patriot suddenly ejaculated. My God! this 
poor man works all day and half the night. Our country sure enough 
seems given to extremes. Weil yes, replied Observer, * laconically, you 
will find rather a different state of affairs here, from what you did 
among the big bugs I found you with in Washington. Yes, yes re- 
plied the old patriot, I was surprised there at the splendor and lavish 
display of wealth. And here, I am still more surprised and disheartened 
too at the evidence I have already had of hardship and penury. Can 
it be possible that this man is an American V He undoubtedly is, re- 
plied Observer, and just about in the average condition of farmers and 
workingmen of the west generally. Well, sighed the old patriot, if re- 
lief cannot be obtained, and speedily, it will be a source of regret to me 
to have found it out. When they reach the house, they find the woman, 
(we will call her Maryl lias ransacked every part of her abode to pro- 
vide the best she had for the comfort of her guests. After a while her 
husband (we will call him John) comes in, apparently worn out with 
fatigue, and exposure to the cold winds of the western prairies. Supper 
is announced, and after a hasty preparation, during which, John apolo- 
gised by saying he dassent wet his hands, it made them crack worse. 
They are soon seated around a very plain, though neat and well ar- 
ranged table. And it soon becomes evident that John is a religious 
man, and with him and Mary they bow their heads, and he offers up 
the following petition: Lord, we thank Thee for the many blessings 
with which Thou hast favored us. Bless this food to the nourishment 
of our decaying bodies, and when we are done with the enjoyments and 
pleasures of this life, take us to Thyself, and Thine shall be all the 
praise &c The ludicrous contrast between poor John's real condition 
in life, and the way he alluded too it in his supplications, was evidently 
not in accord with the old patriot's ideas of man's duty to himself or 
his Creator. And Observer was required to make all the effort he could 
master to keep from violating the rules of propriety, on noticing the ex- 
pression on his face at the close of the benediction. And after supper 
while John was out looking after ids stock, the old patriot in a musing 
way remarked: This poor man is surely not sensible of his real eondi- 



LOOKING FOR WARD. L3 

tion in life, when he talks to the almighty about his enjoyments and 
pleasures, the way he seems to live. Well not exactly that perhaps, re- 
plied Observer. It is I think more the result of outside conditions. 
You see he has been duped and deceived by wily politicians, until he has 
given up all hope of earthly relief. And about the time he does so, the 
preacher comes along and tells him that he must thank God regularly 
if he is even permitted to live, as he does. And that if they attend 
their meetings regularly, and contribute liberally, they will live in the 
fine mansions in the world to come, and the other fellows will be left out 
in the cold. The old patriot shook his head and said: A man who 
could make no better showing with the chances w^e gave him here, 
would, he feared, stand a slim chance anywhere else. And^ a man who 
does not provide for his ow r n family is worse than an infidel. John now 
comes in and the old man addresses him as follows: Though a 
stranger to you my friend, I feel a deep interest in your welfare. I 
trust therefore you will pardon the liberty I am about to take, of asking 
you some questions. Certainly said John, evidently pleased with the 
stranger's sincerity and manners. You are doubtless acquainted with 
the rights and privileges guaranteed to citizens of our country, are you 
not, asked the patriot. Well, replied John, somewhat confused, all us 
farmers and working men think w r e are, but I am a little afraid to 
say yes, and I don't just feel like saying no. We have a book here in 
the house that has the constitution in it, and I have heard the Declar- 
ation of Independence read on the 4th of July, and we go to the poles 
and vote, and call it a free country. But of late years it seems more 
like talk than reality. 

Why my dear friend, replied the patriot, the right to vote is the most 
precious and sacred right of citizenship. And if vigilantly and intelli- 
gently used will always enable you farmers and workingmen to main- 
tain your rights and defend your interests. But neglect to use it thus, or 
abuse such a privilege, and all that has been done for you is practically 
lost, and you will, slowly it may be, but surely drift down to a level but 
little above the down trodden poor of Europe. John now looks down- 
cast and the tears glisten in Mary's eyes. Observer and the rest of the 
committee exchange glances. And the earnest penetrating eyes of the 
patriot is impatiently waiting for a reply. Finally John raises his head 
and after a sorrowful glance at his wife and half clad children, replies 
in subdued tones: Well it looks some that way now, and I don't see - 
any help for it. You don't see any help for it, repeated the patriot in 
thunder tones. O my friend, how inconsiderate and ungrateful that 
sounds to me. You don't see any help for it. Why the poor man's vote 
counts just as much as the rich man's. And farmers and laboring 
men out number the rich nabobs you say, are oppressing you, more than 



16 LOOKING FORWARD. 

fifty to one. Well I guess weMo meekly replied John. Thunderation 
then what are you here for, exclaimed the old patriot, to submit tamely 
to any imposition or fraud that may be imposed upon you by those who 
at best are but your equals before the law, and rough it through life in 
this menial condition, when you have not only the natural right, but the 
legal and constitutional right as well to resist and overcome such abuses. 
Well I suppose we have such rights, said John, but I guess we don't 
know how to use them. And we can hardly tell any more who to be- 
lieve. We have political parties called Republicans, Democrats, Green- 
backers, Prohibitionists and God knows how many more, and some of us 
work and vote for one of these parties and some with another. Ah yes! 
then you are divided in political sentiment and action. Yes sir, said 
John. Well have you ever been able to discover any real difference in 
the character, ability and devotion to your interests in the men these 
parties select to make and execute your laws. Well I can't say that I 
have, said John. They all tell us that theirs is the true and correct 
doctrine, and that their sympathys is with us, and that as long as we 
vote their ticket we will be all right, and that they will soon bring us 
relief, and so on. But after they are elected, the excitement is all over, 
and we seldom hear any more from them until the next political cam- 
paign, when their terms are about to expire, then they come around and 
tell us how much they, and the party have done for us. And they tell 
us funny stories, and we laugh and applaud them, and if their re-elec- 
tion is doubtful the managers of the campaign get up political rallies 
and barbecues and torch light processions to enthuse the luke w r arm. 
But the relief any of them promised us has never come that I know r of 
But I do know times are getting mighty hard, and it seems as though 
we can't work hard enough to keep out of debt, and live mighty saving 
too. Well, said the old patriot with a sigh, 1 feel despondent, humili- 
ated and grieved to find the working men of our country in such a con- 
dition. And why it is that you submit to be thus defrauded, and that 
there are others unscrupulous and mean enough to perpetrate such 
swindles I can hardly reach a satisfactory conclusion. Little did we 
think it w r ould ever come to this, with the country we labored so long and 
so faithfully to make the refuge of the poor man, where lie could be 
free from unjust encroachments. And as to what, or whether any thing- 
can be done to remedy this great misfortune, I am unable to say now. 
Mary, although very much interested, now ventured to remark that it 
was getting late, and all concluded to retire. John however, in accord- 
ance with his cherished custom, began making preparations for his de- 
votional exercises. Saying to his visitors that they could remain or re- 
tire, as they wished. They thanked him and all concluded to remain. 
And in the short supplications, petitions were offered up, identical to 
those at the supper table. Unfortunately the old patriot was not just in 



LOOKING FORWARD. L7 

the right mood to relish what seemed to him inappropriate and thought- 
less appeals to the most High. And the solemnity of the occasion could 
not overcome his inherent desire to have matters as he thought they 
should be. And they had not more than risen from their knees, when 
he accosted John thus: My friend I am a believer in religion and re- 
ligious liberty, and have in my weak way been instrumental in securing 
to my fellow citizens the free exercise of this right. And I like to hear 
supplications to the most High consistent with truth, and you I have no 
doubt mean to be so. But 1 feel curious to know what you consider 
your pleasures and enjoyments in this life, the way you are situated and 
treated by the powers that be. O well, replied John with an air of of- 
fended dignity, w r e are having a pretty tough time now, but we 
hope it will be better after awhile. Afel my friend that won't do 
When you make a well directed and intelligent effort you have reason- 
able grounds for hope, but not otherwise. Tell the Lord that you have 
been a very poor and careless custodian of the liberty and privileges be- 
stowed on you by your over-indulgent forefathers, and I think he will 
believe you. And then resolve that henceforth as long as you are able, 
that you will exert yourself in every fair and honorable w T ay to regain 
lost privileges. And my word for it, he is ready to help you, as he did 
us of old. John did not seem to have any particular relish for this lec- 
ture. But the earnest fervor of the patriot completely subdued in him 
any feeling of resentment, and Mary made a happy diversion on the 
rather awkward condition of affairs by telling how much she was inter- 
ested, and that she could sit up all night and listen to the stranger. 
Thank you madam, said the old man with evident relief. The clock 
now struck twelve, which again reminded them of the necessity of re- 
tiring, and after some pleasant remarks and a hearty good-night, all re- 
tired to rest. But John and Mary were so impressed with the stranger's 
manner and talk, the inclination to sleep had left them, and each was 
w r aiting to see what the other had to say. Mary first broke the silenee 
by saying: John there is something in that man's appearance and talk 
that inspires confidence, and makes the future look more hopeful, don't 
you think so? Blamed if there aint said John, some how r or other he can 
say w 7 hat he pleases to me and I don't feel like getting mad at him. 
What do you think they come for, John? asked Mary. Dogged if I 
know said John. When I first seen them I thought maybe they come to 
collect the pay for that doggoned threshing machine or twine binder, or 
to foreclose that devilish mortgage. But I don't think so now. It looks 
as though the old man and his companions had come to help us out in 
some way. He don't seem to take much stock in your blessing and 
prayer, does he John. O, I don't know, said John feigning tired. 
Well, don't you think he m about right John. O, let us quit talking now 



18 LOOKING FORWARD. 

said John, I feel tired and sleepy. Well I will tell you what is a God's 
fact John, persisted Mary, when you joined meeting last winter, it 
sounded to me just about the way it does to him now. But I believe 
we have both got used to it, and don't notice how silly it does sound. 
There there, that will do, muttered John, don't bother me any more, I 
want to go to sleep and get up early for breakfast. Yes, and that re- 
minds me of something else, Mary again put in, what on earth will we 
have for breakfast, we are out of sugar and coffee. You will have to go 
over to Smith's early in the morning and borrow some, until we can go 
to town. O, for God's sake let me rest, growled John, or I might as 
well get up and go now. This ended the conversation, and both sank 
into the arms of morphia. 

When Observer and the committee awake from their slumbers, the 
sun is lighting up the eastern horizon, and Mary is busy preparing 
breakfast. All arose and dressed, and as they pass into the other room, 
each is greeted with a pleasant good morning sir, by Mary. After the 
usual preparations, all are seated, and as Mary glides here and there 
with apparrently a light heurt and merry air to supply the table. The 
old patriot remarked in a low tone that it was a pity that such a 
woman was tied for life to a man who seemed disqualified to furnish 
her a comfortable home and better opportunities. John who has been 
out attending his stock, now comes in, and after the usual salutation, is 
seated. And as the time for breakfast approaches, he does not seem 
disposed to undertake his usual devotional exercises, after the raking he 
got from the old patriot and Mary the evening before. But their visit- 
or's nature was more given to earnest effort than to levity on such oc- 
casions, and he came to John's relief in a plain and sensible talk. But 
w ? hich, how r ever well intended, made it still more plain that John's em- 
barrasment was noticed. And the mischievous twinkle in Mary's eye, 
who knew that poor John had the same identical prayer to offer up on 
all occasions, got matters in a shape that w T ould hardly be deemed favor- 
able as a stimulus to devotional supplications. After breakfast the old 
patriot addressed John thus: My friend you doubtless want to know 
who we are, and wimt our business is by this time, and right }^ou should* 
We have come sir to observe and investig ate the circumstances and 
condition in life of you farmers and workingmen generally, with a view 
of trying to ascertain the cause an d correcting any abuses of power that 
might exist to your prejudice. I have been told that your condition and 
circumstances is about a fair average of your fellow citizens in a like av 
ocation. Is my information in your opinion correct? Well, said John 
after a pause, I guess I am just about in the same fix as most of the 
farmers in these parts, and I guess those around here are just about 



LOOKING FORWARD. H» 

like they are all over. And I suppose I am just about an average of 
those who own the farms they live on. Some are a little better off than 
I am. and once in a while one who is out of debt and pretty well fixed. 
But there is many not so well oft" as I am, and there is many who are 
only renters, and have no home of any kind they can call their own. 
And American citizens? asked the old patriot. Y-e-s replied John I 
suppose they are. They vote, and go to all the stump speeches and ral- 
lies, and argue and quarrel over politics just like the rest of us, and I 
don't know but more. By this time the expression on the old patriot's 
face was beginning to amuse Observer again. Do you own this little 
farm you live on? asked the patriot. Well, y-t .-s replied John, but I had 
to mortgage it three years ago to get $1,000 1 needed to fix up, and pay 
some debts in town. But only got $925.00, they charged me $75.00 for 
commission and making out the papers. But I have to pay interest 
every six months on the full $1000. O, well then replied his visitor, 
you don't own it. You ow T n but an equity. The fellow you got the 
money of has $1000.00 share in it, and much the best share. For his* is 
steadily growing, without effort or attention. But your share requires 
both, and liable to lose it even then. His is sure to come, if it takes it 
all. While your's, if I may judge from the progress you seem to be 
making, is very doubtful. What do you consider the farm worth? 
Well, about $2500.00 said John. Then, continued the old patriot, you 
pay tax on three fifths and he on two fifths the valuation? 3sTo sir, re- 
plied John, I have to pay tax on all, just the same as though I owned it 
clear of incumbrance. And they are so high it begins to seem like pay- 
ing rent. What! said the old patriot, are you sure you are giving me 
facts? Yes sir. said John, that's the way we have to do. O well, it is 
useless to ask any more questions with a view of finding out the cause of 
your poverty. Go on, said Observer to John, and tell him about prices 
you get. and those you have to pay. John said corn and oats were his 
chief crops, and that 16 to 18 cents per bushel was all he had been get- 
ting for either, after hauling them five or six miles. And other things 
we raise in proportion. But this year, for the first time for years, corn 
and oats will bring nearly double the old price. From what cause? 
asked his visitor. We have had a general failure in these crops, said 
John, and many producer* will be compelled to buy for their own con- 
sumption. O well then, said the patriot: Politics, legislation, or traf- 
fic had nothing to do w r ith this. It was owing to causes beyond their 
control, or purely accidental. Yes sir. said John, we have found that 
out. And we know from experience that just as soon as the least sur- 
plus is raised, the speculators will put the value down to old prices. 
Well, I am glad you have learned even that much, replied his visitor. 
For otherwise these occasional fair prices for your products, might tend 



°2& LOOKING FORWARD. 

to throw you still more off your guard. Yes sir, replied John, the Re- 
publican stump speakers and writers claim all the credit now for the 
prices we are getting. And when it gets down to 15 and 16 cents 
again, they will call it over production. John then, at Observer's re- 
quest, gave the prices he had to pay for necessaries, and for professional 
services of all kinds the demand supports, and for incidental expenses 
in the way of religious, benevolent and charitable contributions, and an 
occasional investment to educate the heathen, besides trying to supply 
the needs of his own family. O Great Heavens! That's enough, said 
the old patriot. Many of these are worthy objects no doubt. But 
with your meagre income, no wonder you are poor. No wonder this 
poor woman you call your wife, was ebmarrased, as I know she was, at 
the poverty of your home on our arrival, No wonder your poor children 
are running around half clad. Well, it aint any wonder, poor John re- 
plied in subdued tones. It seems as though we can't work hard enough 
to keep up even the necessaries of life, and pay interest and taxes, to 
say nothing about the principle and other debts I will be expected to 
meet. You have still other claims to meet, besides those mentioned it 
seemes, carelessly observed his visitor. Y-e-s, said John I owe about 
$75.00 on a twine binder, and about $50.00 of a doctor bill, and about 
$20.00 on a sulky plow, and I agreed to pay the preacher $20.00 for this 
year. And he was here yesterday, and I had no money, and he wanted 
a fresh cow I have, and I was willing to let her go, but Mary objected 
and said we needed the cow too much ourselves. And he didn't like it, 
and told her Saint Paul said women should obey their husbands. And 
Mary is pretty saucy sometimes, and told him we could get along with- 
out his preaching better than without the milk. And I hated it. O, 
they all want their pay, and I suppose it's right they should * have it. 
But it seems like we can't work hard enough to pay them all, and live 
as saving as we can. Well, now let me tell you my friend, said the old 
patriot straightening up. Your evidence corroborates Observer's, only if 
anything it is worse than he represented, I have told you what we 
were here for. I will now tell you that we had previously been through 
the east, and obtained a still more thorough knowledge of conditions 
there. We visited your President, Senators and Congressmen, seen 
and talked with, all your national dignitaries, millionaires, rail road 
magnates, corporations of immense wealth, rich merchants and manu- 
facturers, rings, trusts, monopolies and God knows what all we didn't 
see that must exist as accompaniments to many of these self evident 
frauds. And we have now a sufficiently clear conception of conditions 
and causes, and the way our once free and happy country is tending, 
to make a full and comprehensive report to those who sent us. But it 
will be a startling and painfully ominous one to them, as well as to us. 



LOOKING FOKWAKB. 21 

And what the result will finally be, I can hardly conjecture now. We 
leave you with sorrow and reluctance, and with no very pleasant fore- 
bodings of the future, for I fear we have come too late. And especi- 
ally do we feel sorry for your poor wife, and God knows how many 
others no better off . And these poor children, happy in their innocense 
and childish glee, but little knowing what the future of our country, 
dark as it seems Co us, may have in store for them. Tears were now 
visible in the eyes of all. And poor Mary unable to restrain her feel- 
ings, wept bitterly, and implored the old patriots to stay and help them 
provide for their children. Adding, with sobs, that she would be will- 
ing to rough it through, and work hard all her life, if she only knew 
that her poor children would have a better chance. God bless you my 
dear woman, exclaimed the old patriot, but little less affected with grief, 
such sentiments of self denial and parental affection, helped us to gain 
our rights, and with God's help it may yet enable us to perpetuate them. 
Your devotion and example affords me encouragement. Poor John w r ho 
is but little less affected, also entreats the strangers to stay, saying that 
he had told about them at Smith's that morning, and several were 
coming to see them. As he spoke, some five or six other farmers ar 
rived and were introduced. One of them an earnest and intelligent 
looking man, requested a hearing. This being freely granted. He said: 
My friends I know not who you are, or from whence you have come. 
But we have heard of you in a way that revives a hope for our country. 
Your presence here, and remarkable statements is in part known 
throughout the neighborhood. All are extremely anxious to see and 
hear you before you depart. And we want to call a meeting at our 
school house this evening. And beg of you to talk to us there publicly. 
Well my friend, replied the patriot, that would rather be inconsistent 
with our original intentions of going through the country quietly, so we 
could the better see things just as they are. But I am happy to say 
that I have had encouragement right here with this family, in the last 
hour, that makes me feel like doing any thing I can for you, and in any 
way consistent with justice. I will remain and come, but do not ex- 
pect much. For I am not a fine talker, and may say some things that 
may not be just what you want. It matters not, replied the farmer: 
We want to hear a man who knows what is wrong, and will say just 
what he thinks, no matter whose head the hat may fit. And thanking 
him they started on their way, to make preparations for the meeting. 
During the day the committee separated. Two going to other fields of 
labor. The old chairman and Observer only remaining. And they were 
industriously engaged in collecting all the information possible about 
the fraud and corruption in politics, and the primal and subsequent re- 



22 LOOKING FORWARD. 

suits thereof on the confiding and misguided party voter and his interests. 
After supper there was evidence of a full attendance, and some enthusi- 
astic farmers drove up with a fancy outfit decorated with flags and em- 
blems, to convey the old man to the school house one mile distant. But 
to their surprise and disappointment, the old patriot objected to being 
thus paraded. We will w 7 alk gentlemen, said he. When the necessaries 
of life and a reasonable competence is maintained, it will be time 
enough for such display. And I don't care much about it any way. 
And they did walk. When they reached the place of meeting, all eyes 
were upon them. And a Mr. Egotism and Mr. Self-conceit came to meet 
them, and at once introduced themselves as residents of the country for 
over twenty years. They told the old man that they were thoroughly 
posted on the political out-look there, and each alluded to the strong in- 
fluence the other could exercise over the farmers, and how they could 
change results of an election at will whenever they wished, that voters 
all came to them for advice, and — Here the old patriot called a halt, by 
saying with a severe and stern look: Neither of you fellows impress me 
favorably. You are political schemers, of small caliber no doubt, but 
none the less so in fact. And as such, your acquaintance or attention 
is not desired. This was a cooler, and Egotism and Self-conceit now 
turn their attention to circulating the report that the stranger who was 
going to address them was nothing but an old crank. And of course 
many believed it. Hence when he took his seat, the feeling toward him, 
except the few who knew him better, was not favorable. The old man 
realized this, but waited patiently. The meeting w r as finally called to 
order, and Egotism elected chairman. He pompously walked forward, 
and introduced the speaker thus: Ladies and gentlemen, we will 
have the pleasure of listening to an address this evening, on the political 
issues of the day, by a gentleman who is an entire stranger to me. I do 
not even know what his name or politics is, (laughter) but I hope he 
will prove to be sound, and that we will have a good time. After thus 
expressing himself with an air and expression of scorn for the speaker, 
he took his seat as chairman, evidently pleased with himself, and ad- 
mired by many of his frieuds in the audience, who expected lots of fun. 
How their anticipations were realized, we will see further on. 

After the momentary bustle caused by Egotism's flourishes, all eyes 
were again directed toward the speaker and Observer setting on his 
right. The old patriot seemed unmoved, and slowly rising he stepped 
to the edge of the platform and looked over the audience with a kind of 
indignant sympathy, that, as was afterwards told, was more than a 
match for Egotism's flippant remarks, and seemed to secure the respect- 
ful attention of the audience before he uttered a word. He commenced 
in a slow, firm voice, and said that he was not there for the purpose of 



LOOKING FOR WARD. 

talking to Republicans or Democrats, or any other political, religious, 
benevolent or social organization. I want to talk to you, said be, as 
American citizens if you can yet justly claim to be such. Nor do I feel 
disposed to make the least effort solely for the purpose of gaining your 
applause, unless you enjoy being scolded, which is not very likely. We 
have chosen to conceal our identity, as we w T ant to see matters and 
things just as they are so far as we can, and in a quiet and unobtrusive 
way, with as little excitement and demonstration as possible. Hence 
you do not know perhaps who I am, nor does it matter. 1 want you to 
know however, and you will in time find out, that I have been sent here 
by those wno are your true friends. And that the producers and labor- 
ing men of this country can depend upon them, and upon me in your 
time of need, as being true to your interests and faithful in your service. 
Our mission is, to endeavor to institute means to better your condition. 
But this explanation may not fully satisfy you. Like your chairman, 
many of you doubtless, are anxious to know w r hat my politics are. And 
I will try to tell you briefly: I am an American citizen, and a practical 
believer in the principles upon which this government was founded. I 
want to pull down, and humble the aristocratic and arrogant millionaires. 
And elevate and encourage the worthy poor. I want legislation that 
will restrain the rich in their greed and avarice, and reduce their surplus 
wealth and income. And that at the same time will reduce the cost of 
living to those in poor or moderate circumstances, at least one half, and 
correspondingly increase their earnings. 

And I want to take what your politicians call protection, from the op- 
ulent aristocrats of the East, and give it to the farmers and laboring- 
men of the West. And I want to select men as law makers, w r ho will 
go to our State and National capital as men employed and w T ell paid for 
their services, in any position of trust and responsibility. And who at 
least will try to render an equivalent for money paid them, and confi- 
dence placed in them, by doing something of practical benefit for the 
people who send them there for that purpose. And not devote their 
time to the interest of cliques and combinations, who are 'defrauding 
those who thus send them. And I want much less red tape buncombe, 
and more practical common sense and fidelity exercised in the interests 
of laboring men generally, on the part of those who make and execute 
the laws. And I will not stop at merely saying I wanted these things; 
I will have it so, if you will follow my directions, and you are even one- 
half as true to your obligations as citizens as you ought to be. You have 
ample power and means to do this, quietly and orderly at the polls. 
And if you neglect making an effort in self defense much longer I have 
no promises or pledges to give you. If it is possible that you have be- 
come so inexcusably dilatory and unconcerned about your own and fam- 
ilies condition and welfare, as to let these scheming and unscrupulous 
politicians, of either party, lead you around by the nose any longer. Or 



LOOKING FORWARD. 

if it be possible that fate has decreed that you have procrastinated un- 
til the doors of liberty and the poor man's rights have been closed and 
bolted against you, by your enemies, and in your presence, without even 
raising your hand to prevent it, the future historian will hold you 
justly responsible for the failure of the best and most liberal govern- 
ment, God ever gave to man. And the cringing and servile votaries of 
pompous aristocracy, whose groveling nature begets the belief that a cit- 
izens claim to respect is measured by their income and money, no mat- 
ter how obtained, would complacently tally one more victory for perpet- 
uating the rich man's arrogance, opulence and oppression, and the 
poor man's humility, poverty and submission. And if there is any 
words in our language, the meaning of which, the rising generation 
should be taught to despise, it is these. Those are some of my senti- 
ments, or politics if you prefer that term. And your chairman here, or 
any others, need no longer remain iu doubt as to where I stand thus 
far. His audience by this time is no longer able to restrain their feel- 
ings, and applause in the usual way not being sufficient to satisfy them, 
three cheers for the stranger, is proposed. And the speaker, seeing their 

enthusiasm was beyond control, became resigned and said: O well, go 
on and relieve yourselves. And they were given with a hearty good- 
will. But, continued the old patriot, 1 have heard of your cheering po- 
litical buncombe, so much that you need not expect that I will regard it 
as much of a compliment until you act as well as cheer. What I want 
you to do is to calmly consider these things, and then if they accord 
with your views I want you to act promptly, and in a determined man- 
ner, and never let up or waver in sentiment or action until you obtain 
these results. Then you can cheer, and have cause to be happy. And 
God grant I may be enabled to help you cheer and celebrate such a vic- 
tory. But applauding political stump orators for telling you stories, pre- 
pared solely for the purpose of getting your votes, to enable them to de- 
fraud you, or at mere mention of true reform, and doing nothing in a 
practical way to obtain it, ought to be shamefully unworthy of your cre- 
dence or toleration. 

I find you are divided in political sentiment and action. Some of 
you voting for and working with what you call Republicans. And 
others as zealously supporting Democrats, Prohibitionists &c. Well 
you have been trying this for a long time, and it seems to me that the 
experience you have had, and are now having, ought to satisfy you 
farmers and laboring men if anything will. A person may be deceived 
and swindled once by one they had reason to believe was a true friend, 
and not have their judgment called in question much for this one mis- 
take. But if they continued to let the same rascal deceive and defraud 
them time after time, you would all say they needed a guardian. You 
certainly must know, if you but observe and think, that a contest be- 



LOOKING FORWARD. 

tween these politicians, has come to be one simply for honors and 
spoils, and one in which very little attention is paid to ther rights or 
interests of the masses,, except when they do so far the purpose of 
getting your votes to obtain the position sought.* You certainly must- 
have observed that the stronger either party becomes, and the longer 
they remain in power the more corrupt they become. And if you men 
who work at manual labor for a living, are foolish enough to stick to 
them any longer, the wisest thing you can do, is to vote with the weak- 
est, for the nearer equal they are, the more honest they are compelled 
to be. 

But has it ever occurred to you, that when you show your party zeal, 
and argue and quarrel over the issues party leaders set up, generally 
for the purpose of catching your votes, that yon are doing the very 
thing that pliable politicians, and lords of capital generally, want you to 
do. They well know that the masses, or wor kinsmen of this nation, 
have the pow T er in their own hands, if you but sensibly determined to 
utilize it for your own benefit and protection, and as we of revolutionary 
times intended it should be used. They well know that if you would 
sensibly conclude to throw your political and party affiliations and preju- 
dices to the dogs, and unite for your own interest and protection, and all 
laboring men, and those in sympathy with them, all vote and pull to- 
gether for their constitutional rights, or if even one half of them would 
do so, that they, the capitalists &c, would gradually, and some of them 
suddenly, have to get down where they legitimately belong. And that 
the millions of your money, unjustly legislated into the vaults of mo 
nopolies and millionaires, and often supporting all kinds of pomp, ex- 
travagance and vice, might possibly have to be returned in some legal 
way to the rightful ow T ners, .and put to much better use in supporting 
commendable industry, and providing more comfortable homes and 
better surroundings for the worthy poor. And please understand, that 
I want nothing I have said or may say, construed to mean that I am op- 
posed to persons accumulating a liberal competence, or even becoming 
wealthy, if done in a fair and legitimate way. The right of people in 
this country to the benefit of their industry, energy, genius or frugality, 
must be as free and unrestrained, as their right to life, liberty and the 
pursuit of happiness. And I will go further, and say that if wealth 
and influence is obtained by the fair and legitimaie use of any one, or all 
of these faculties, it is even so far, commendable and praise worthy. 
But mark you, if these restrictions even, had been enforced or res- 
pected, the word millionaire would not be needed in your dictionary. 
And when we come to consider the question of equal rights, our field of 
vision widens, and we begin to wonder whether or not this gentleman 



26 LOOK1XO FORWAKB. 

who has grown so vastly rich, has made it all in this way, without in- 
fringing the rights of other citizens, who are more dependent. Or has 
he obtained it by scheming and plotting, in utter disregard of others 
rights in moderate or p'oor circumstances. Or still worse has he com- 
bined with other rich and unscrupulous schemers for this purpose, and 
for setting traps to catch and defraud the unsuspecting public. And if 
so, it is a very different thing, and becomes a dangerous public evil that 
must not be tolerated in this country. It must always be remembered 
that as w r ealth and influence increases, that the obligations and responsi- 
bilities of good citizenship, which includes a decent regard for others 
rights, increases correspondingly and must be held to account. ' Hence, 
when those thus favored become so regardless of these obligations as to 
use these potent factors for good and evil, for the purpose of cheating 
and defrauding their less fortunate fellow citizens, or in any way to cor- 
rupt or influence legislation for selfish ends, or to hinder or influence 
the free use of the elective franchise, they become dangerous public 
evils, and just legislation must and will restrain or punish such crimes 
against public justice. That money and the influence it brings, lias 
been and is now freely used to influence voting in all your political par- 
ties, and even in your halls of legislation, and by the consent and sanc- 
tion of many you have placed in high positions of trust and power, I 
have evidence that fully convinces me. And this is an admission I 
will be compelled to make in our report, humiliating as it may be. to 
those who sent us. 

But these are not the only causes of your political misfortune, and it 
is but just to allude to one other, that I regard as the most prolific of evil 
results, and that is the slothfulness and consequent ignorance, and lack 
of appreciation and respect for our country and its privileges, on the 
part of so many of the laboring classes, as you now call them, and es- 
pecially so in large cities. This thought must seem extremely humiliat- 
ing to all good citizens, who naturally feel a deep interest in the present 
and future welfare of our country, and realize the urgent need of polit- 
ical reform, and know also how- indifferent and unreliable many such 
unfortunates are, and what a hindrance to just and equitable measures- 
of any kind obtained by the ballot. For, not having adequate knowl- 
edge of rights and privileges, they do not comprehend or appreciate. 
And knowing little and caring less how the government is run as long- 
as they can procure a mere subsistance, they become the willing tools of 
scheming and unscrupulous politicians, who knowing that their vote 
counts as much as any others, use them to the best advantage, often as 
hirelings to offset and even overcome the votes of tne better class of 
citizens. And for this reason these same politicians are quite generally 
becoming more successful office seekers, as you call them, than upright. 



LOOKING FORWARD. 27 

honorable men, who will not stoop to such vile practices. In this way 
the scum of New York City has more than once decided who was to be 
your President for the next four years. 

Much of the cause of such humiliating conditions is attributed to for- 
eigners, prematurely made citizens. But, when the effects of wrong- 
doing become so apparrant, it is quite* natural to try to shift the blame 
onto other shoulders. But the facts seem to be, that many political 
office seekers and demagogues whose appreciation and respect for the 
privileges we secured for citizens were about of a kind the devil would 
be supposed to have for making an acceptable minister of the Gospel. 
Designedly misconstrued our intentions in founding this government, 
into national vanity and political buncombe, to induce foreigners to 
come here by the ship load, and the more credulous they were, the 
better for their purpose. And on their arrival crowd them into full 
fledged citizenship soon as possible. What for? Does any one, native 
or naturalized, believe that this was prompted by a desire to better the 
condition of these people? As well might they believe that the manu- 
facturers and venders of patent medicines were instigated in their ef- 
forts solely by a desire to preserve your health. It was generally done 
because this class of politicians wanted more voters, who could be duped 
by flattery and appeals to their national sympathies, and their votes thus 
secured to elect many such schemers to high positions they but dis- 
honored and disgraced. But the end and the means to that end, must 
be both looked after, and foreigners must be required to furnish reason- 
able evidence of ability and desire to cast an intelligent vote. If they 
cannot help to cleanse the putrid condition of your body politics, they at 
least should be restrained from producing any more septic poison in its 
system. Of course even this reasonable demand, would cause some of 
your political wolves to howl about such imposition on the suffering 
Irish, industrious Germans &c. But just let them howl. What we 
want from this on, in this line, is foreigners who are thoughtful and 
considerate enough to appreciate the blessings of a free government and 
the privileges we give them, and who will realize that such requirements 
will promote the ultimate good of all citizens alike, whether native or 
naturalized, and who will be even glad to assist us, as well as them- 
selves, in furnishing all the rights and privileges these schemers talked of 
so glibly, but only for the purpose of getting votes and aid in their own 
evil designs. But let me whisper in your ears, that justice may demand 
that the foreigner question be kept a little quiet for a while, until you 
straighten things up a little closer home. Those who have glass houses 
you know, &c. 

Since our arrival here in the west, we have found that you have one 



28 LOOKING FORWARD. 

or more self-constituted political bosses in almost every voting precinct, 
who arrogantly boast of the influence they can exercise over you farm- 
ers and workingmen when you come to vote. These are the fellows, 
political schemers of larger caliber use as the most efficient tools to ac- 
complish their evil designs here among you, and as inducements of 
some kind is necessary to stimulate" their cheek and industry, the prom- 
ise of a county office, or perhaps member of assembly is held out for 
their acceptance, and as things are generally run, I find they are the 
ones who usually get there. And this is about the way it is done: A 
schemer in one township, who thinks his time has come to get an office, 
will visit his co-workers in other townships, who of course want ari office 
too, as soon they can get it. Schemer No. 1, wants them to have their 
township support him, and promises that when they come out as can- 
didates, he will see that his township goes solid for them. All are 
agreed, the matter is now in shape, and these fellows look very wise 
and commence telling you at every opportunity what a nice man the 
other fellow is, and what a good officer he would make. And when nom- 
inated for the position sought, the political papers of the party, in that 
locality will compliment and congratulate you, who are the victims of 
this chicanery, for having made so wise a choice in selecting a man 
so eminently qualified to fill the office in a worthy and creditable man- 
ner, and in he goes with a big majority, and you are once more called 
upon to rejoice over a grand Republican or Democratic victory. For 
higher offices, including those of your State and for Congress, your po- 
litical farce is manipulated generally in about the same way, only on a 
larger scale, and on the principle that the greater the prize and doubt 
of obtaining it, the greater the scheming and intrigue necessary to se- 
cure it. Money is freely used in these contests between your political 
gladiators, especially when victory is doubtful. And the most able 
schemers or in other words, the fellow who can do the most attractive 
talking, tell the most funny stories, and influenca the most votes, gets a 
correspondingly large share for his eminent servicas, and is generally a 
rising star for Congress or some other big office, and when th3y enter 
the field are lauded as model men by other aspirants in the party, travel- 
ing the same road. And the political papers of the party will vie with 
each other in referring with just pride to his political record and emi- 
nent services to the party, and explain in the most affecting and pa- 
thetic terms how much you are indebted to him for his past valuable 
services and untiring zeal in your behalf. Then the circus opens, ring- 
masters enter, and political buncombe in the way of speeches, rallies and 
torch light processions follow in regular succession. You then go to 
the polls, and under the influence of the excitement thus produced, casta 



LOOKING FQRWAltD. '2\) 

vote that but encourages a continuance of such practices. This can be 
accounted for only on the ground that these political contests are pur- 
posely got up to excite the masses; knowing as they do that as excite- 
ment increases, sense or judgement correspondingly weakens. But it 
occurs to me that after such excitement blows over, and you voters cool 
down to sober thought, and look around and consider your surroundings 
and condition in life as compared with these same politicians and others, 
and then come to pay the interest on your mortgaged homes, with little 
prospect of ever owning them again, and then an exorbitant tax on the 
equity you still own, and on the other fellows share too, and then an- 
other high tax on nearly everything you eat, wear or use; that some of 
your political benefactors call protection, and then estimate the general 
market value of your hard labor and its products, and the actual cost of 
supporting yourselves and families even in the most plain and frugal 
manner, and then add as an appendage to your calculations, the fact 
that you are the victims of fraudulent monopolies, rings, trusts &c, got 
up by avaricious, scheming capitalists, manjr of whom are piling up 
wealth until it becomes millions, and so easy that it hardly requires an 
effort on their part after their scheme is concocted, and all this under 
legal sanction. It occurs to me I repeat, that you w^ould have evidence 
enough to convince you, if any thing will, how much you are indebted 
to most of these politicians you have been electing to make your laws 
and protect your interests, for their untiring efforts and zeal in your 
behalf. Yes, I should think you would. For my part, when I think of 
the efforts and pluck it required to make this a government of and for 
the people, and then after the lapse of a century, come back here and 
find that you have voluntarily surrendered most of the rights and privil- 
eges transmitted to you for your safe keeping, and submit to be thus 
duped and imposed upon by these smooth and arch deceivers, I feel like 
shaking you up. If your wives and school children could have a clear 
conception of how you have been bamboozled by some of these political 
sharks, I can : t see how T they could, with confidence, look up to you as 
husbands, parents or protectors, until you resolve to abandon your party 
buncombe and assert your rights as citizens, and demand faithful ser- 
vice from your legislators and others placed in power by your votes. 

I have been among your national dignitaries before I came here, and 
observed them closely, and am fully convinced that if you expect any re- 
lief or good, for you, to come out of politics, until you wake up to the 
necessity of re-constructing your political fabric in selecting men to 
serve you, you are doomed to disappointment, just as much as you 
•would be if you were expecting the vile weeds to cease growing in your 
corn fields without any effort to exterminate them. Your U. S. sena- 



SO LOOKING FORWARD. 

tors are, so far as I could see, with few exceptions, a batch of pompous, 
aristocratic millionaires, whose manners, actions, customs and inclina- 
tions are as foreign to your needs as are the lords of England. Your 
congressmen are mostly bankers, lawyers and politicians, whose time is 
mostly occupied in attending fashionable resorts, preparing buncombe 
speeches and assisting other members from distant localities in procur- 
ing appropriations for government contracts. Some I seen there, were 
I believe well disposed and conscientious, but many of them were a kind 
of genteel, modest do-nothings, who incline to venerate wealth and 
display. They seemed too nice or too timid or something to even offer 
an objection when fraudulent combinations were pitted against the 
people's rights. And if you had no other choice, you had much better 
elect an aggressive man, even though comparatively illiterate, with 
barely intelligence enough to know and plucky enough to express, like 
Davy Crocket did, that he could not talk as well as they could, but he 
could lick any man in the house, and then proceed to do so, if he could 
do nothing more commendable than to send one of your slick, genteel, 
fastidious, well meaning do-nothings, who sit there like a bound boy at 
a husking, afraid or too nice or worthless or something to even inter- 
pose an objection, when millions of your money, the product of this 
fertile soil and your hard labor, is being appropriated and squandered 
to build coast and harbor defences, rifled canon, iron clad gun-boats 
and costly and ornamental public buildings generally let at two or three 
times the actual cost of the work to be done, and often altogether un- 
necessary, except to afford political pets a chance for profitable invest- 
ment. 

But you have other choices, plenty of them, men who if you will hunt 
them up and send them there as your legal representatives, you will 
soon hear of a racket in Congress. Men who realize that this is the 
people's government, and poor man's as well as the rich mail's^ and 
that the national capital with all its spacious apartments, adornment 
and contents is yours as well as theirs, and that there is a great many 
more of you than there is of them, and that every legal voter is an equal 
partner in the whole concern, and hence men who mil feel perfectly at 
home, and have the common sense and self respect to regard the big- 
gest toad in the puddle as a social and political equal, but never a su- 
perior, unless that distinction is due for having been more upright and 
useful to their fellow men, and that would let most of those fellows out. 
Men who will tell them forcibly, firmly and respectfully that they have 
beeu making laws that make the rich richer and the poor poorer, and 
that they have been sent to try and reverse this process in a quiet way. 
to see how it will work, and that the farmers and laboring men of their 



LOOKING FORWARD. 31 

districts have been liberally furnished by their honorable body, with 
high taxes, starvation prices for their products, and hard times, all the 
appropriations and prnfits going to the monopolies and rich capitalists 
di rectly or indirectly, and that even a temporary reversal of this pro- 
gram would be a relief to the over taxed brains and flabby muscles of 
the dainty millionaires, and dudes who admire them, and at least equally 
advantagious to the overtaxed muscles and empty purses of the toiling 
masses. How can we get such men, do you ask. You have plenty of 
such, but they must be sought after. They will not, as a rule, get 
down to ask an office, nor solicit your support in the murky pool, poli- 
tics has got to be. But O, my friends, wiien I think of how long you 
have utterly neglected your plain duty to yourselves, your family and 
your country, and how often you have been deceived by schemers on 
one side calling themselves good Republicans, and on the other side, 
good Democrats &c. And how willingly you walk right into the traps 
they set for you, called platforms and issues, and which they seldom 
have any use for after election. My hope for the future of our country 
is almost turned into despair. When I remember how T well it was 
understood that the people would be the rightful rulers, and legalowners 
of this country, and those whom they selected to make, interpret or ex- 
ecute their laws would be their public servants. What, ,1 ask, do we 
understand this to mean. I understand that a servant is one subject to, 
or under the control of another to a reasonable extent, and so far only 
as relates to the particular service to be performed for a stipulated con- 
sideration, and in this limited sense, the party for whom the service is 
performed may be considered a master, and in this sense one of your 
most w r orthy presidents and a martyr to the cause of liberty, adopted 
this principle as a rule of action,, that public officials were public ser- 
vants, and the people who elected them were their rightful masters. 

Now 7 think of this for a moment. Are w r e to consider this free gov- 
ernment a mere farce? No, no, from several voices. Well then, are 
we to conclude that these principles and conditions of citizenship are 
but silly, impracticable jargon. Why if we put this in the way I now 
find prevalent, how T will we have it? Why, almost if not altogether the 
directly opposite conditions. The ones whose rights is to be masters in 
this matter, has become subject too, and controled by the ones whose 
province is to be Servants. After you elect your so-called public ser- 
vants now, they soon become your public masters, and some of them ar- 
rogant and tyranical ones at that, who instead of looking up to you as 
masters or even as constituents, look down upon you from their lofty 
perch, as unworthy of consideration or even notice. Why a short time 
ago my companions and I were the guests of your senators and con- 



32 LOOKING FOKWAKJ*. 

gressmen in your country's capital, and the pomp, grandeur and extrav- 
agance of themselves, their homes and amusements made us tired of 
their opulent ease and luxury. And one evening while they were favor- 
ing us, as they seemed to think, with what they called a grand ban- 
quet, my friend, Observer here, quietly walked up to w r here we were 
sitting and in a becoming and sensible way, asked for my attention 
and as he done so, the assembled aristocrats and fashionable dudes of 
that assembly, seemed horrified at his appearance in plain garb, and 
gazed at him with a shudder of surprise and disgust, as though he was a 
cannibal from the Fiji Islands. But to us it was a great relief to meet 
even one man in that gorgeous assembly who looked like a sensible and 
natural American. (Here the pent ug feelings of his audience again 
burst forth in applause,) and the old patriot continued: On our ar- 
rival here among you farmers and laboring men, w T e found a slight 
change in conditions and actions. O yes, the contrast was so great 
1 have not the command of language to do either justice, but after my 
first observations and talk with my friends, John and Mary here, if I 
had been required by those who sent me, to briefly describe in writing, 
the shape I found these masters and servants, we have been talking 
about, in, I should have put it something like this: I found the ser- 
vants, their families and attendants, living in splendid mansions, pro- 
vided and adorned in gorgeous magnificance, reveling in opulent ease 
and luxury. I found the masters in cheap and ragged clothes, with 
rough and bleeding hands, out in the cold November winds from day- 
light until dark, toiling over the rough and frozen ground, husking 16 
cent corn, and their wives and children toiling in a way no less labor- 
ous and fatigueing. Their general condition, considered in connection 
wilh their mortgaged homes, and many without any homes, oppressive 
taxes and general prospects under the way political matters are now 
conducted, seems to me discouraging and heart rending — a pause — and 
he continues in subdued tones: O, for shame, my indifferent, unap- 
preciative and ungrateful fellow countrymen, must it be said that you 
have proved thus recreant to the most exalted and liberal trust ever 
committed to man's keeping. Is it true, can it be true that the most 
generous and liberal sentiments that ever originated in the brain of the 
patriots and philanthropists of seventy-six, and defended by them against 
the armies of a powerful and unscrupulous tyrant for six long years of 
hardship, suffering and danger, will thus finally result in building up 
and maintaining a hateful and abominable set of arrogant aristocrats, 
such as we then and there, labored so long and so faithfully to pull 
down. In those memorable struggles, many of us were compelled to 
walk barefooted over the rough and frozen ground, we suffered untold 



LOU1U.NG FOKWAKJj. '06 

hardships at Stillwater, Brandywine and Valley Forge. In the time of 
our greatest distress and privation, affluence and ease was offered us, 
to become the subjects of tyrants. No we replied, we are poor and des- 
titute, but poor as we are. the king of England is not rich enough to buy 
us. 

And now, old and feeble as I am, I would without a murmer, con- 
cent to undergo the same hardships and danger for a like period, rather 
than surrender one jot of the principals then defended. I could not 
endure it now, I would fall by the wayside, but I would hold out as long 
as God gave me life and strength to move, rather than see these poor 
children of yours when they grow up to be men and women, subject to 
such cruel and heartless oppression, as w r e were before we united in self- 
defence. (Here again his audience lost control of their feelings. Sobs 
were heard from all parts of the house,) and the old patriot w T aited and 
reflected, he turned to speak to the chairman and found him in tears. 
He then looked at observer and found him too deeply affected for utter- 
ance. A stranger in the audience now arose and asked to be permitted 
to say a few w r ords, which being freely granted, he said: The speaker 
was an entire stranger to him, but who ever you are or what ever you ■ 
are or wherever you come from, God bless you, for what you have said 
this evening. Would to God it would continue to sound in the ears of 
every mechanic, farmer and laboring man in this broad land, until they 
resolve to unite in self-defence and carry it into effect. (Applause.) I 
have thought much about these things, and it seems we are sinking lower 
and lower, and that if something is not done we will soon have no right 
to defend that is worthy of the name, and fear that resort to the bullet 
will be the ultimate result. He resumed his seat and the old patriot 
continues, I thank you my friend for your appreciation and heartily 
agree with you as to the neccessity of uniting in self-defence of your 
rights. But we want no bullets or people who will resort to such means 
in this country. Where recourse is had to the ballot, there is no earthly 
excuse for the bullet, but ignorance and moral cowardice, while excep- 
tional cases there may be where it had to be used in defence of right and 
justice with good results. No such claim is possible now. In a govern- 
ment like this the sympathy of all good and intelligent people is on your 
side and such constitute a host of your effective strength: that you dare 
not to tamper with, and to retain their sympathy and respect you must 
keep within proper bounds and work in a quiet and orderly way. Intel- 
ligently used the ballot will bring you sure victory and with it respect 
and prosperity. The bullet will bring you nothing but defeat and humil- 
iation. 

Public matters cannot long remain entire secrets, politicians you elect 



M LOOKING FORWARD. 

and confide in may play the knave secretly and betray your confidence 
in the interest of your enemies, and do so a way that although quite 
generally believed, cannot be proven, but it is only a question of time if 
there is much of such rascality, it will prove itself. Eesults will tell the 
tale. They are telling on the masses of this country now and have been 
for some time in a way that leaves no room for doubt, and, as a result 
and proof of the magnitude of their crimes, you have millionaires by the 
thousands, and as a natural consequence about one hundred times as 
many poor. You have opulent, arrogant, aristocrats and humble slaves 
to toil and drudgery, and this in a country where it is a free-for-all race, 
and every man is supposed to be his own master. 

Why some of your rich nabobs whose hearts have not yet became cal- 
loused to every feeling of humanity and every principle of justice, I 
found at times were ashamed of their vast wealth and its rapid increase. 
Often without an effort on their part while the fact was staring them in 
the face that thousands of their fellow citizens, who are equally as sen- 
sative and more worthy, are toiling and struggling against fate, misfor- 
tune and poverty to obtain a mere subsistance for themselves and fami- 
lies. This is also known and will have its effect if but agitated and the 
people wake up from their lethargy. 

But the crises is almost here. There is a time when patience and for- 
berance ceases to be virtues. If you persist in showing no disposition to 
help yourselves in an effective way you will be considered unworthy of 
the assistance of others, who will then be compelled to adopt the selfish 
conclusion that they will look out for themselves, and if you rashly re- 
sort to force of numbers, and arbitray and coercive measures or mob-law, 
defeat and more stringent laws will be the result. 

Strikes of laboring men, mechanics and artizens for an increase in 
wages and reduction of the hours of labor, I find is becoming a matter 
of every day occurance. The rapid accumulation and concentration of 
the wealth alluded to, has expanded many corporations into such vast 
and varied proportion that the force of such men often required in one 
such concern, numbers thousands. And when wares or needed articles 
of any kind are manufactured for public use and sold to dealers, or when 
public convenience is dependent upon the products of their labor or skill, 
so many such men abandoning their posts, without giving due notice of 
their intentions are guilty of great wrong. Inasmuch as they inflict in- 
convenience and loss upon an unoffending public, who are in no way to 
blame for the grievances complained of, and this works adversely for 
them. On public sentiment and sympathy, and so far the vily capitalist 
is safe. He knows the value of these mighty factors, but when such 
men determine to enforce redress, and not only abandon their work, but 



LOOKING FOltWAItb. 36 

also organize to prevent others who may be willing to do the same work 
for the pay they refused, they are guilty of an act that all good citizens 
will regard as the laboring man's greatest misfortune, and which all in- 
telligent people, all over this land, whose hearts, sentiments and sympa- 
thies are in full accord with laboring men and their interests, and who 
are but waiting for an opportunity to do all they can in a quiet and legit- 
imate way for the cause of labor, as against capital, will regard it as 
dark clouds of mere physical force and blunders, obscuring the sunshine 
of liberty and equal rights. 

Such movements may be of some use, as evidence of the dissatisfaction 
of these men under existing conditions, and hence the necessity of inves- 
tigating the cause and applying a remedy. But as a means of securing 
more favorable recognition of their rights or more liberal pay for their 
services. They are serious and mischievous blunders, for if concessions 
are made at times to their demands, it will only be temporary, and be- 
cause the wily capitalist is afraid of their combined strength, but th ey 
furnish this same capitalist just the pretense he desires to secure, an 
increase in the military force of the country, and that is just what they 
will do through their willing co-workers in halls of legislation. If these 
strikes continue, until in addition to their backing millions of money, 
-they will also be backed by a sufficient force of canon and bayonets, to 
be masters of the situation, strike or no strike. Of course these soldiers, 
called ^National Guards, will be organized ostensibly to repell invasion 
and suppress riot, and it is but fair to admit that the frequency and 
magnitude of these strikes may reasonably be regarded as a menace or 
indication of such a disturbance. Of course those who lead or engage in 
them may think differently and claim that as long as they are conducted 
in an orderly way, that they have at least as much right to combine for 
protection as the corporations have to keep grinding them down, and it 
would seem so, but the facts are, both go beyond the limit of fair and 
legitimate rights in doing so. On the capitalist side it is an unwarrant- 
able abuse of power that should not be tolerated in a country like this, 
and in the strikers case it is the wrong way to combine for redress. The 
wily capitalist has adroitly succeeded in getting nearly all the legislation 
in his favor, and there is always danger of his shrewd and unscrupulous 
encroachments on labor, being gradually submitted totoo long, but not so 
in the striker case. Such acts by large bodies of such men, however 
orderly, will alw r ays be regarded by peaceable and well disposed citizens 
with suspicion of approaching disturbance and danger, just as we regard 
a dark and threatning cloud with apprehensions of an approaching 
storm, although it may never come. It must be admitted that in thus 
trying to protect what they regard as their rights, they are infringing on 
the rights of other citizens. When an innocent public suffer inconvea- 



86 LOOKING FORWARD. 

iences or loss as a result of such strikes, and besides this others whose 
rights must be equally respected or often debarred the free exercise 
thereof by fear of danger, if nothing more of taking places abandoned by 
the strikers, however much they may desire the employment. The facts 
are, capital has always lorded it over labor, and always will until labor 
substitutes intelligent action for physical force. 

Do not understand me to mean that farmers, mechanics and labor- 
ing men should not combine for self protection. It is the very thing I 
want you to do, but not in turbulent demonstrations and strikes, but at 
the ballot box, and not a farmers union here, a mechanics union there, 
and a knights of labor union somewhere else, and like a balky team, 
no two pulling together. But a grand union of all these interests com- 
bined, so far as possible, all over the land, organized to go in a quiet 
and orderly way to tlje polls, and thus gain a victory worthy of Amer- 
ican freemen, and one that will make the millionaire and monopolist 
tremble in their boots at the just retribution approaching, and restore 
just rights, and honorable and effective means os self prottction and sup- 
port to thousands of downcast and deserving poor, who have labored and 
toiled and struggled against oppression, misfortune and penury all their 
lives, and nothing to show for it but the extravagant and pompous dis- 
play of the favored ones, into whose vaults their hard earnings has been 
continually drifting, as a result of class and unscrupulous legislation. 

And even this kind of combination might be regarded as unnecessary 
and objectionable in a country like ours. But plotting capitalists and 
their co-workers, iu office, have combined to rake in your hard earned 
money, and influence legislation to dignify extortion and fraud with 
legal sanction. Under just laws the farmers and laboring men of this 
country would need no such combination or protection, more than such 
laws, and their faithful execution, would give them. But as it is, com- 
bined effort is your only hope. 

Your Parmer's Alliance is in most respects commendable and ben- 
eficial in a social, moral and educational sense. The occupation of 
farming naturall tends to isolation, and such an organization will 
bring you into closer communion and fellowship, beget more desire for 
reading and investigation, and widens your field of observation. 

But as an effective and adequate remedy for the great primary and 
national evil of political corruption, which is the foumtain head from 
whence all the lesser evils flow, that you have any cause to complain of, 
and in this way trying to combat it, is like taking the little pills of the 
Homeopathist to cure a long standing and malignant disease, or skirm- 
ishing around in squads to capture a well fortified position, that will re- 
quire the united effort of all your combined forces. This is the source 



LOOKING FOUAVARD. S7 

against which you must combine to repel invasion, but I fear it is not 
the kind your soldiers are intended for. I 

Your combining to procure the goods you need, from parties at a dis- 
tance, because you can in this way get them cheaper than your home 
dealers sell such, is perfectly justifiable if your home dealers enter a 
combination to compel you to pay their prices. But as long as they rely 
upon their own merits and efforts, and keep out of these trusts or com- 
binations of any kind, and willing to meet fair competition, it is on 
your part, penny-wise and pound-foolish. When each dealer acts for 
himself, and it is a free-for-all race, the law of supply . and demand 
and competition in trade will be all the protection you need or can 
reasonably expect in this line. Your interests, and those of your home 
merchants are identical, and they cannot afford, even if so disposed, 
which is always doubtful until proved, to be otherwise than fair and 
reasonable in their methods and prices. And hence I believe it is folly, 
except for the reasons mentioned. In fact it looks to me, something 
like being tickled with a straw, and striking a blow r at an imaginary 
bug hard enough to hurt yourselves, and paying no attention to the po- 
litical gallinippers, that are sucking at your life blood. 

But I suppose your case is something like the people of a village or 
neighborhood, who had been impoverished by theft long continued, but 
who were unable to find the guilty ones. In such case, the first unfor- 
tunate stragler detected with nimble fingers, would at once be suspicion- 
ed of all the stealing that had been done, or at least accessory to it. 
So in your case perhaps to some extent. You have been deceived and 
cheated so long by politicians and their favored pets, that its effects 
are becoming self evident, and you cannot but know that there is a big 
leak somewhere, and not clearly understanding the real , cause, you 
. naturally become suspicious of the motives, of those, with whom you 
transact business. And when you find . one of your merchants has 
sold you an article for even a trifle more than you could have got the 
same for elsewhere, or beat you in a little trade when perhaps you were 
just as anxious to get the best of it as they were, you are apt to con- 
clude, that all the business men you deal with are trying to beat you. 
and that this is the chief cause of your stringent circumstances. 

This is but an evidence of weakness. Such petty grievances will 
naturally occur as long as people are differently constituted, and must 
be included in the ups and downs of life, in which you must look out for 
yourselves. 

Political maladministration and general unfaithfulness on the part of 
those politicians, who promise you relief solely for the purpose of getting 
your support, a.nd the condition of affairs such a course will naturally 



2S LOOKING FOKMARD. 

engender, is all you can have any just cause to complain of in this 
country. And however bad this may be, it is to a very considerable 
extent the legitimate result of your own apathy, indifference and negli- 
gence, and hence it would be more creditable to abandon, so far as you 
can, this ineffectual and humiliating way of seeking redress. Com- 
plaining, as a rule, is an evidence of weakness, fault finding is no vir- 
tue, nobody likes a growler, and patience and forbearance much longer, 
on the part of farmers and laboring men, in this case would be but an- 
other name for incompetency and moral cowardice. What I have said 
here to-night, I have done for the purpose of trying to wake you up 
to a sense of your condition and danger. You have th£ power in your 
own hands, but to be masters of the situation and merit the respect or 
even sympathy of your fellow men, you must show to the world that you 
know this and know also how to use this power when necessary for your 
own protection. You will not, you cannot my friends, merit the decent 
regard of thinking intelligent people here or elsewhere much longer un- 
less you at least make a faithful effort to do this. The humility and 
poverty of the masses in most of Europe, who are the unfortunate sub- 
jects of tyrants with unlimited power, appeals to our own sympathy and 
we think how intelligent and happy many of such poor creatures might 
be if they only had a fair chance. But, in a country like this where 
natural and conventional advantages are second to none on the globe, 
where every inducement possible is held out to every one to make the 
most of life in a legitimate and honorable way. Poverty or menial con- 
ditions is regarded in an altogether different light, and unless the results 
of bodily condition, or destructive and uncontrollable agencies, I look 
upon with a strong suspicion of something very discreditable back of it, 
and rightfully so. So I repeat I do not complain too much of your de- 
privation or poverty. We secured for you the right to be free and inde- 
pendent citizens; we put the power to rule in the hands of the working 
men to run this government or have it run in their interest, and that is 
all we could do. All you have to do is to use that power with discretion 
and some sense to make your homes happy and prosperous. If you are 
not willing to make even a reasonable effort to that end, and if your pro- 
ducers and laboring men will not do that much for your own welfare and 
that of your children, and protection from tyranical inroads of greedy 
capital, what more (in the name of Heaven,) I ask, can or could we do? 
We could not institute a government in which people would prosper 
without an effort, or where careless, indolent sluggards, or even those 
who are lacking in the necessary ability would be as desirably provided 
for as intelligent, industrious persons, with good business qualifications. 
And who would want such a condition of affairs, even if it was possible. 



LOOKING FORWARD. 39 

All any government can do, is to encourage commendable effort, and 
this ours has done in the most liberal manner possible. But it seems 
all do not improve the opportunity, and of course none will profit by 
such concessions but those w T ho do. And it would therefore be unfair 
and unjust to regard wealth, within reasonable bounds, as any evidence 
of knavery, or poverty as of itself any evidence of honesty. Men with 
necessary qualifications and strong desire to accumulate, will always 
come out ahead iu the race for wealth, if they do not for happiness. 
And lazy, indolent loafers will as surely come out behind. One 
naturally drifts toward business success, the other as naturally toward 
poverty. One thinks the world, and especially America, is good enough 
for him. and rolls up his sleeves, if necessary, and goes to work with a 
will, and determination to succeed. All heasks is a fair chance and 
equal rights, and that he will have. The other turns his attention to 
brooding over his misfortunes, and doesn't regard them exactly as 
blessings in disguise, but inclines to find fault with every thing in gen- 
eral and persons w r ho are prospering in particular, as if they wished 
everybody to think the country would be better off without them. 
These are matters of individual traits and concern, that legislation was 
not intended to reach, and I mention it because these are some of the 
arguments you will have to meet. It is the province of law r in this 
country to protect each citizen, and especially the weaker, in the free 
exercise of these rights, or in other words, the most protection for those 
citizens who need the most. Hence, when two or more of these wise, 
ambitious fellows, allow their desire for wealth to beget a total disre- 
gard for other's rights, who need and deserve government protection 
more than they, because weaker in this sense, and they go beyond the 
bounds of legitimate business, and organize rings, trusts and other 
fraudulent combinations to compel the unprotected citizen in poor or 
moderate circumstances to pay their price for what the mass of the 
people have to buy, and accept their price for what you people have to 
sell, and these prices so established as to constitute a system of public 
robbery, and even influence legislation and obtain legal aid. In such 
nefarious practices they become a virulent poison to the life blood of 
American liberty, and must be promptly suppressed, or this free country 
becomes a mockery and a by-word. If the kind of government you 
have now, does not protect industrious and well disposed citizens, be- 
cause they are in poor or only moderate circumstances, from such ras- 
cally encroachments of capital in the hands of unscrupulous sharks, I 
ask, what is it good for? Is it worth to you farmers and laborers, the 
tax you are required to pay each year for its support? Has it become 
destructive of the ends it was established to protect and foster, and if it 



4U i.OOJvl^G KOKWAJW. 

has, what is the right of the people in such a case, who do you under- 
stand the word people to mean in this country, and what are you here 
for? Give this matter a moment's sober thought, and then see if you 
will not agree with me when I say that it is a duty more imperative 
upon the massess of this country than any other I know of at this time, 
to God or man, to combine regardless of party, and by your votes stamp 
out such nefarious frauds, and at once change such political practices 
on your part, as have proved instrumenral in leading to such corruption 
and turn over a new leaf, and for Heaven's sake and for humanity's 
sake drop, for the present at least, all your squabbling on such questions 
as temperance, prohibition, high or low license, tariff and free trade and 
even on religion, which although all worthy of attention more or less are 
yet, at least in a temporal sense, of but trifling moment when compared 
with the grand doctrine of equal rights, equal justice and equal privil- 
eges to all citizens, rich or poor, and protection for the weaker, and 
unite to secure faithful representation and laws to maintain these ends, 
which in a great measure will also settle many of your minor differences 
And now I will give you an opportunity to consider this matter, and 
may I hope that you will decide to act promptly and faithfully Yes, yes, 
from all parts of the house. Well then to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock I 
will meet a few of the older and more experienced men for consultation 
as how to proceed with the work at this place. Good-night. 

The feelings of his audience were much too deeply affected by this 
time to indulge in noisy applause and all retired quietly and thought- 
fully, impressed with convictions that they were there to stay, but wheth 
er or not all of those thus impressed would prove to have the courage of 
these convictions is yet to be tried. 

The old patriot expected but a chosen few at his consultation meeting 
next morning, but it became evident at an early hour that the enthu- 
siasm caused by his talk was going to be wide spread and general. He 
noticed this and seemed to regard it unfavorably. It seems, he said to 
Observer, that the effect of your visit and talk on these people is chiefly 
emotional and I fear they will be too fickle and irresolute to overcome 
the difficulties that will be thrown in their way by wily politicians and 
their coworkersi in the public press. Well, replied Observer, I hope and 
believe you will be agreeabjy dissapointed in this case. Well if I am it 
will be more than agreeable replied the old patriot, it will make me shout 
for joy and I will be hopeful and patient as I can. Just then a number 
of vehicles came along filled with occupants on their way to the meeting 
and when the old man was observed, cheer after cheer from the men 
and many a God bless you from the women went up for their old friend. 
The hour for meeting was now at hand, and they start for the school 



LOOKING FOKWAKD. ±1 

house, and as they approach it soon becomes evident that the house 
would not contain one-fourth of the people assembled. And it being a 
beautiful autumn morning, a stand has been erected outside for the 
speaker, tastefully ornamented, and a deputation of ladies dressed in 
appropriate colors, had been selected to conduct the old man to his seat. 
Observer expected all this, but feared that his friend's acknowledgment 
of such honors would hardly be of a kind that would lead them to con- 
clude that such efforts were appreciated. He was pleased however to 
see that his old friend submitted to the honors with becoming modesty, 
and as the ladies lead him forward, "Our Country" was sung with a 
spirit and pathos that evidently surprised and deeply affected him. But 
yet, when seated on the stand and all eyes upon him, seemed perfectly 
calm and self possessed. And Observer knowing what was customary 
to expect from a speaker after such honors shown them, no one in that 
vast audience was more anxious to hear what the peculiarities of his old 
friend would suggest, than he. The chairman of the meeting was now 
observed speaking in a whisper to his friend, which was answered by a 
significant shake of the head, after which it was announced that tne 
speaker desired no introduction or formality of any kind. This brought 
smiles to the faces of those who began to know the man, and after a 
pause the old veteran of '76 arose and said in a strong and firm voice. 

My friends, your ideas and customs, and my ideas and way of doing 
things are evidently quite different, and considering the advantages you 
enjoy in some respects, and the times you live in, and those in which 
I lived, and their stern realities, hardships and privations, this I sup- 
pose is to be expected, and if I seem to manifest any disregard for any 
of your ways or customs, it is not from any lack of respect or esteem 
for you, but because I cannot conform to some bf your fashionable ways 
without acting unnatural, and I prefer to remain true to my own cus- 
toms and way of doing things, and give you the same privilege. 

Were I one of your modern politicians, I suppose I would consider all 
this enthusiasm and honors shown me by your ladies here, as the most 
flattering evidence of popularity, and graciously bow my acknowledg- 
ments in the most approved style of the art, (laughter) but I am not 
and never was such as many of them seem to be now. I have come to 
you as an Aerican citizen to his fellow country-men, and as a father, 
friend and adviser. For myself individually I have nothing to gain and 
nothing to lose. But the welfare of our country, and of the toiling 
masses, who constitute a large majority of its citizens, is everything in 
this life to me and those who sent me. And the enormous wealth I 
find among the few, and the general indications of poverty among the 
many, will, when I report the facts, make the present abode of your 



42 LOOKING FOKWAHJD. 

best friends a house of mourning. But it is justly due you to say, that 
the evidence you have already furnished me of your willingness to make 
an effort in defense of justice and your own rights, will tend to mitigate 
their sorrow, and for which you have my sincere thanks, and I trust in 
God this feeling will continue to grow stronger until victory for right, 
and justice will crown your efforts, which it assuredly will if you are but 
faithful to your own interests. Our power to help you is of course limit- 
ed. After securing you the right to decide for yourselves, we cannot 
stay here with you, and go to the polls every time you vote, and perhaps 
you would not relish such close surveillance. We have given you ample 
means of redress in case your rights are infringed. We found they had 
been, and after despairing of your making an effective effort in self de- 
fence, have come to warn you of approaching danger, and to admonish, . 
and advise, and beg of you to use these means diligently and sensibly 
for your own and our country's protection. Do this, and you will make 
us thankful and happy, even if the bouquets and decorations have to be 
neglected, and for that matter the enthusiasm and excitement too. 
These candid declarations produced a feeling to deep for apilause. 
Confidence was conspicuous in every face, and Observer was joyiul at 
the pleasant way his old friend regained his own ground. Some of you 
remember, continued the old patriot, that 1 told you last evening what 
the result of these strikes would finally be. This morning the ominous 
ring of the deadly Winchester rifle in the hands of capitals hirelings in 
the streets of Albany is wafted to my ears. Of course the strikers can 
arm too, but it would only prove a sad misfortune, that all good citizens 
would regret and be compelled to condemn. Did you ever read or hear 
of government bayonets or canon being on the side of labor when such 
rash and foolish means are resorted too for redress of grievances, real or 
imaginary? No, no, the wily capitalists are generally on the safe side 
in such strifes. Every intelligent man knows, and every fair minded 
man will admit that in the absence of any agreement to the contrary, the 
employer has an unquestionable right to discharge his employe at any 
time, and that the employe un4er same conditions has an equal right to 
quit his employer's service wiienever he wishes. If the employe has ac- 
quired a knowledge and adaptability for the vocation he abandoned, for 
the purpose of compelling his employer to comply with his demand, and 
feels that from long application to its duties and his own negligence to 
prevent such a result, that he is disqualified to make any other legitimate 
vocation a success, that is no fault of his employer, but the natural re- 
sult of his own earless habits and willingness to be moulded by such 
habits into a helpless and dependant machine, instead of being a free and 
independant man and the one who institutes an effective effort to pre- 



LOOKING FOK W A \tD. 48 

vent such humilating results, will be entitled to rank as a public bene- 
factor, however much the leaders in the strikes may deserve credit for 
their sagacity and good intentions. Able bodied persons reduced to a 
condition of poverty or dependance, except as a result of destructive ele- 
ments or from some temporary affliction, cannot reasonably expect much 
sympathy in a country like this. The humiliation attendant upon fail- 
ure and the credit accorded success in life is, as a rule, commensurate 
with the opportunities afforded to succeed. If you meet a man in the 
highway looking uncouth, ignorant, shabby and poor, your natural aver- 
sion mellow T s into sympathy, when you find he has just arrived from a 
country in which the poor had no rights, their tyranical rulers were 
bound or disposed to respect or notice, and you w T ould feel like saying — 
you poor unfortunate wanderer if there is a spark of manhood left in 
you after the humiliating conditions you have been subjected to all your 
life, you may yet be of some use in a country like this. But if you found 
that he had been here many years and although able bodied and of sound 
mind, had failed to profit by the opportunities afforded here, your sym- 
pathy would now harden into aversion and lack of faith in his ultimate 
redemption from penury, now let me say, I did not come here this 
morning expecting to talk to a large audience and have only concluded 
to say what I have, so as to not entirely dissappoint you. My time is 
limited here and I am liable to be called away at any time and I want 
to work while here in the way that will do you the most good, and that 
will be in attending to the business for which this meeting was intended 
Some of the more experienced men here last evening and I will occupy 
the room for that purpose, and those of you who remain here can enjoy 
yourselves in any way agreeable, and I am sure you w T ill be considerate 
and not disturb us with any unnecessary noise. My friend, Observer, 
has prepaired and put in place a f ac-simile of our old Independance bell, 
and if we on the inside agree as to what is needed and how to proceed to 
obtain it, the bell will be rung as a signal, then you will have reasons to 
at least feel happy in anticipation, but let it be so far as possible a quiet 
and hopeful happiness, then waiving a good-bye, the old man started for 
the building, followed by the silent admiration and blessings of all. 
When he entered the room he found it fuil of just such men as he want- 
ed, who had purposely occupied it to keep the merely curious from doing 
so. Silence and order prevailed as the old man entered and after a mo- 
ments pause, he requested the doors securely fastened, w T hich being 
promptly attended to, he looked over the room, at his new associates with 
a strange and effecting expression, in which the different emotions of 
sorrow and hope were peculiarly blended. 

For the first time since his arrival the tears, which he evidently tried 



44 LOOKING FOKAVAKD. 

to conceal, glistened plentifully in the old veterans eyes, and he stood 
for a moment in deep reflection. Finally breaking the silence in a calm 
and guarded tone, he said: My friends, It is hardly expected that you 
could be affected as I am, it is very seldom that I can be effected to tears 
but I confess my feelings were to much for me this time. After looking 
at that bell and the arrangements made to ring it as of old, and then 
come to look at the expression on your faces, past scenes and recollec- 
tions crowd upon my mind. A little over one hundred and fourteen 
years ago, a smaller number of us than there is here this morning, met 
for a purpose that was much more difficult and dangerous to undertake. 
The issues to be met then was liberty or bondage, death or victory, but 
then and there with tears of retribution for wrongs perpetrated upon us, 
we pledged our homes, our honor and our lives, to stand by and defend 
to the last, the principles there laid down. How 'that promise was kept 
you know as well as I do, and that the blessings of liberty and equal 
rights were secured for ourselves, our children and posterity. But none 
of us thought then, nor can it be reasonably expected now, that the 
rights and privileges the re secured for citizens of our country are self-re- 
pairing or self -protecting. Like all other good and desirable things or 
conditions, they w T ell deserve and must have the care and attention of 
those who receive their benefit. But it is unnecessary to repeat the use 
you made of such privileges. Almost criminal neglect on one hand and 
a willingness on the other to take advantage of such neglect to the fullest 
extent to enrich themselves at your expense and effectually influencing 
many of your legislators to render them aid in thus robbing you, briefly 
describes the situation. This was at first done cautiously and in a small 
way, but finding that you would gradually yield to such impositation 
they are getting so, their rascally scheeming seems to recognize no bound 
or limit. The time has come when you must unite in self defense, not 
against a foreign tyrant and his armies and hirelings this time, but 
against your own pretended, but treacherous fellow countrymen, who in 
many respects are more dangerous and sordid. In this contest however, 
you need no weapons of offence or defense, there cannot or must not be 
any indications even of violence on your part. In the effort we have 
met to consider no army can oppose you, no right minded man can but 
respect it. No one can truthfully tell you that you must hang together 
or hang separately, as Benjamin Franklin told us u you have everything 
to gain and nothing to lose." Even should you fail at first you will with 
additional experience and renewed courage try it again, for it would be 
the height of folly to surrender or submit to defeat in a contest where 
all the law T , facts, justice and nine-tenths of the strength and numbers 
are on your side. How will you commence and proceed. Have any of 
you anything to offer. (A pause.) And one arises and says: I am so 



LOOKING FORWARD. 45 

thoroughly convinced and anxious to get down to work that any sugges- 
tions from me would be a waste of time. I have been a Republican, 
he continued, and worked faithfully for the party since it started, but I 
have now laid party down forever, and here pledge myself to the faithful 
support of this cause. As how to proceed I am not the one to say, I am 
here to faithfully obey instructions- If I had been enfeebled by disease 
for a long time and under the treatment of a number of quack doctors of 
different schools who were charging me excessive and unnecessary bills, I 
should continue to decline in health and means until 1 became an impov- 
erished invalid and about this time a physician came along who, in the 
most plain and convincing manner described first, the causes that origi- 
nally gave me health and strength, then the causes that produced my 
disease with every sympton, feeling and effect, and then as plainly de- 
monstrated to me what abomniable stuff those quack had been giving me 
as a remedy, and that it only aggravated the disease, and then without 
money and without price, he asks as a favor to give simple directions 
easily followed, which if complied with would restore my health and for- 
tune. Certainly if I did not willingly and thankfully accept such an 
offer, no one who knew it could have any sympathy for me If I died in 
the poor-house or charity hospitable. This illustrates as best as I can 
how I feel towards you, our benefactor and best friend. God bless you 
this is all I have to say. The old patriot w r as pleased, a smile lit up his 
usually grave countenance and he said: I thank you my friend for the 
intelligence and appreciation you manifest. I cannot understand why 
such men have not taken this matter in hand before this, but please 
remember that compliments and praise is wasted on me. Now let me 
hear from others who have any suggestions to offer. Here another arose 
and said: Every man in the room except himself perhaps could express 
an intelligent opinion on this matter, but said he, we are all of one mind 
and in order to expedite matters, we had previously agreed to have the 
gentleman first up speak for us all, and I ask all who feel thus to arise. 
Every man was instantly on his feet. Be seated gentlemen, said the old 
patriot, that is sufficient and satisfies me that the work so far as 1 can 
render any assistance is virtually done. All that remains is to 
suggest and agree upon a uniform plan of operations; as to changes to 
be made and work to be done, always bearing in mind that intelligence 
and a just appreciation of your rights and a vigilent watchfulness for their 
protection, and at the same time a decent regard for the rights of otheirs 
is the best safeguard of the principles you are about to organize, to re- 
establish and knowing as I do and as you do that there is a large number 
of voters engaged in farming in a crude way, and as laborers all over the 
country, who are, unfortunately for themselves and for us, hardly pre- 



46 LOOKING FORWARD. 

paired to practically comply with this requirement. Steps must be taken 
to improve their condition in this respect as well, and in a practical and 
effective way, or else in time the right of franchise must be restricted to 
those who are appreciative enough to at least try to use it as we intended 
However much we may desire that all men everywhere could be free, 
our patience is well nigh exhausted when we find that some use the right 
that freedom brings to the detriment of the very principles that secures 
them such rights, and to their own and other citizens detriment as well. 
Some we have found who seem to persist in and act as if they liked to be 
duped by schemers and sometimes even sell such a privilege for a mess 
of pottage, and when such rights are made articles of merchandise for 
any consideration, and good citizens tolerate such shameful acts, what I 
ask can you reasonably expect as a result. Those who are well disposed 
but otherwise disqualified to comply with these requisites, you must for 
the present try to aid and use all honorable means to prevent their prej- 
udice or whims being played upon your by wily adversaries. The first 
thing to be done then is to organize and let every organization commence 
right at home. Dispose of these self constituted political bosses I alluded 
to last evening, and thus make it quite unnecessary for these fellows who 
are so anxious to serve you in office, to run around the country to consult 
little bosses, and among you with their deceitful twaddle, about the po- 
litical outlook, etc. " Do this effectively and thoroughly, and when so 
done you already have reason to be thankful to each other. 

Now determine that as you have put a final veto on the man hunting 
office, that those needing such offices had better look up the material to 
make such a one as they want, and make this a rule of action in all your 
selections for work to be done in your organizations as well. This is one 
of the most essential precautions, and is not based so much on the belief 
in the scarcity of suitable and reliable men as on the general tendency of 
those who are neither to crowd themselves forward to obtain positions 
they are unworthy of and disqualified to fill . 

After you become organized in order to carry out this method, select a 
suitable committee of investigation, a sufficient time before election, 
whose duty it will be to select and reccommend men to serve you in 
office. Then your organization can select one from those thus reccom- 
mended, and other things being equal those not here-to-fore conspicious 
in politics must have preference. Now when your man is thus selected, 
the precautions used should be proportionate, to the trust or responsibil- 
ity to be assumed. If for some high office and especially a state or nati- 
onal legislator, notify the one thus selected of the facts and' if he accepts 
let him appear before the committees of the several organizations that 
conjointly selected him and let them tell him plainly why you selected, 



LOOKING FOKWAJU). 47 

him, just what you want and what you expect him to do. Let there be 
no fooling in this matter. You have selected him and your organization 
is confiding in you and your judgement, and good name is to some extent 
at least staked on the results, and trifling does not promote confidence* 
You are about to place confidence in this man if you elect him, and you 
pay him liberally for his time, hence feel no delicacy in being plain and 
candid with him. He will prize your confidence more. Tell him even 
that means will be instituted to find out just what he will do and that in 
addition to liberal pay for his services, his constituents, thanks, confi- 
dence and respect w r ill be his, if he is zealous, faithful and effective, but 
if otherwise it can no longer be tolerated. Are you willing Sir, to accept 
our best efforts to elect you to represent us in congress, for example, on 
these conditions. Now if he is the man you want, he will gladly incour- 
age such earnest work and freely reply something like this: I am wil- 
ling to serve you to the best of my ability, if elected. Your interests are 
my interests, and I here promise that if at any time during my term of 
office, you have just cause to become dissatisfied with my acts, that I 
will instantly resign, and my pay as such officer ceases when notified by 
any authorized member of these committees to that effect, and continue 
faithful to the organization after, as before my election. This latter 
clause will seem to some impracticable, but bear in mind that; such a 
resignation must of itself be considered an evidence of manhood and 
honor. Many good and true men, and able men too, might be sent to 
your congress, who after being there awhile might have good reasons for 
concluding that they happened to lack some peculiar tact or courage 
necessary to institute successful offensive operations in such a stronghold 
of wealth and ability. In such a case resignation must commend them 
for other positions of trust suited to their ability, taste and aspirations. 
Remember that if those you have been sending there were thus true to 
your interests, very few of them would have remained the second week. 

Have as few rules as possible and respect what you do have. Avoid 
formality and ceremony in taking in members, and substitute alacrity 
and common sense. If your treasury gets full clont waste it in gew-gaws 
or extravagant jolifications, better remember the needy in a substantial 
w r ay, it will have abetter effect, and there is much more danger of hav- 
ing jolifications to soon, than not at all. Let all w T ho do not understand 
such, at once learn simple parlimentary rules, so necessary in business 
meetings. Many details of course will be necessary and useful. Your 
ow r n good sense will be sufficient guide here. 

In judging of men, no man should be suspicioned of purely selfish mo- 
tives for simply desiring an office, but his actions and efforts to obtain it 
may fully justify such suspicion. And now T in conclusion, when you 



48 LOOKING FORWARD. 

begin to make your power felt, be careful about going to the other ex- 
treme. It will be just as necessary to accept prosperity or success, 
meekly and thankfully, as to shun adversity. Snould you gain a victory 
common decency demands that you show respect for the feelings of the 
defeated. In this respect some of your political jolifications are disgust- 
ing affairs, not only for this reason, but also because the fools who yell 
themselves hoarse, are no better off, than if the other side were victori- 
ous. Beware of smooth tongued deceivers and adhere to the rule — Pick 
your man. Remember to, that many good men who join you, will be 
hooted at perhaps by the dirt throwers in the old parties. Your good 
sense must restrain from being either to confiding or to suspicious of mo- 
tives, but select your men, and don't forget that right at home, in your 
own towns, townships and county, there is plenty of your money reck- 
lessely squandered to furnish you profitable employment between times. 
Have a committee to investigate where the 1 or $200,000 goes to, you tax 
payers pay into your county treasury every year, and find who pays the 
most according to their means. Look up the cost of holding your elect- 
ions, especially in your unincorporated towns and public expense in gen- 
eral, and make an estimate of what you get for all this enormous outlay, 
and then when your mind reverts to original causes, you will likely think 
of your honorable law makers. It costs so much L to elect, to legalize 
much of such fraud you will find some honest and reliable official, whose 
line of duty enables them to see much of this corruption, who will be 
glad to help expose such public robbery, when the people, their right- 
ful masters, make such demand. Do this and then in purging your state 
and nation, you will have a multitude of willing assistants, and if by 
this time yeu do not feel like kicking yourself for having submitted to 
such frauds so long, you are not the Americans I take you to be, and the 
fact that it is your bounded duty and unqusstionable right to do so, you 
ought to esteem a glorious privilege. 

Wake up then and make yourselves happy in the consciousness of how r 
much you have to do, and that being done will so much increase your in- 
come and lessen your expense, and more than all, secure you happy 
homes and bring due respect for the rights and avocation of American 
producers and laborers, that others will be bound to respect. Now I am 
done and submit what I suggest for your correction and approval. A 
pause. Then the member first up arises and said: Let all present in 
favor of accepting every word and of adopting every suggestion here 
made by our best friend, and who stand ready to pledge all they posess 
of finanical, social or moral value, in furtherance of these ends, arise. 
Every man was instantly on his feet. That is sufficient said the old 
patriot, there is no need of any pledge, more than you show in your 
actions and faces. Ring the bell. This command was promptly obeyed 



LOOKING FORWARD. 49 

by Observer, and as the significant sounds pealed forth on the bright 
morning air, the scenes outside cannot be described. By this time the 
gathering there had increased to a multitude, and there was not perhaps 
a dry eye in all that vast assembly. All wept for joy. And as the old man 
modestly decended from the building, blessings were showered upon 
him, and after he and Observer had spent some time in private consulta- 
tion, he was again entreated to occupy his seat on the stand, so all could 
see him. He consented, but said I must soon go and, after ascending 
the stand with Observer and associates, he at once stepped forward and 
in a clear firm voice said: My friends, my mission is fulfilled and my 
hour for departure is near at hand, and 1 feel grateful to those in coun- 
cil with me, and to you, to be enabled to say that the future of our country 
looks brighter now, if those in council prove to be vigilant and faithful 
to their promise, and I believe that they will, and their fellow citizens in 
the same avocation are even reasonably true to them. I will be permit- 
ted to visit you again, but (a pause) but if misfortune can possibly prove 
so inconsistant and relentless against the wTonged and needy as to cause 
my advice and appeals to be remembered only in theory, we can but hope 
to forget you and the opportunities you once had. I notice you call this 
your country, and it is right you should. You speak with some pride of 
your rights as Americans too. and it is right you should, but has it ever 
occurred to you that this country and these rights are yours, to preserve, 
protect and defend, and transmit, unimpared or improved to your chil- 
dren and posterity, but not yours to destroy, sell or neglect. Please 
remember this, and remember also that the changes I have suggested 
and that your council have adopted, is not of themselves any guarantee 
of your success. They are but the means that when faithfully used will 
accomplish this end. and so with any plan or suggestion that can be 
adopted. Vigilance and common sense, at least in an ordinary degree, 
is still essential to carry such plans or suggestions into practical effect. 
When you people become trustful of others, and by your votes or other- 
wise place power in their hands, you thereby enable those thus confided 
in to benefit you more or injure you more, as they feel disposed or may 
be influenced, than they otherwise could, and in proportion to the nature 
or extent of the power so intrusted. This being true, you should begin 
to estimate more clearly the vast difference to your interests, in having 
an able and faithful man, who is true to your interests, and a smooth 
tounged deceitful Judas, who will sell to the highest bidder the rights 
and your interest you send him to protect. Let no one among you allow 
himself to conclude, and especially in politics, that what is everybody's 
business, is nobody's, and that he can stand a public fraud as long as 
others can. or because the loss or expense to him individually is only a 



50 LOOKING FORWARD. 

mere trifle. This kind of logic, if adhered to, would in time only relieve 
you of what (in this way of expressing it), you seem to consider the 
trouble of looking after your own best interests, but you would wake up 
some fine morning and find some arrogant overbearing official, look- 
ing after it for you, who would not show the least disposition to consult 
you as to how or when it was to be done, or how much it would cost or 
discommode you. I beg of you to think of these matters and act accord- 
ingly and promptly. 

My true and faithful friend, Observer, will be as true and faithful to 
you when I am gone. Heed his council and all will be well. And now 
with a fervent hope for your welfare, I bid you all farewell. With a 
wave of the hand and moistened eyes, the old man now dissapeared 
among his associates. All arose and moved towards the stand for a last 
look at their benefactor, but the report was soon circulated that he could 
not be found. This was at first discredited and those who attended the 
council determined to find him now, and after failing to do so, went to 
Observer and were amazed to find him sobbing with grief at the sudden 
departure of his friend, and in response to their anxious enquiries, his 
only reply was he has gone. Never was there an assembly in whose 
faces the emotions of joy, sorrow and surprise were so plainly and so 
affectingly blended. 

After the anguish caused by their friends sudden and unexpected exit 
had sufficiently subsided, Observer naturally became the center of attrac- 
tion and was earnestly called for. He arose and said: His feelings were 
such as to require all the effort he was capable of making to attend to his 
part of this strange and affecting program. The unexpected arrival and 
departure, said he, of my mysterious and now absent friend here in your 
midst, and the unanimity and alacrity that our citizens in council with 
him appreciated and adopted his suggestions, constitute a wonderful and 
glorious coincidence, and one that will lead to a better appreciation of 
good men, and cause rascals to become more conspicious and culpable, 
and all there is left for us to do, is to be vigilant and faithful as we can 
to the great inducements held out to us. Let us be considerate too and 
not allow our ardor to carry us too far. Education and persuasion is the 
only means at our disposal producive of good results, and with energy 
and courage of our convictions, is all we need. The farmers and labor- 
ing men of this country have long and amply demonstrated their ability 
to bear Imposition and adversity, and ought to be able now to bear a 
little fair play and prosperity as meekly. However well convinced and 
desirous for this change those of us who have witnessed this impressive 
revival may be, it must not be forgotten that others have an equal right 
to decide for themselves, and if in looking forward to results, any of our 



LOOKING FORWARD. 51 

fellow citizens in poor or moderate circumstances, cannot see sufficient 
inducements to join our cause, we can but deplore such misfortune and 
light their battles for them. 

I have not been endowed with any special rights or power in this 
matter, the way is open and free to all citizens alike, irrespective of sex 
or nationality, and I earnestly entreat all such all over this broad land to 
organize at once and enlist in this army of peace, to meet capital at the 
polls and there decide whether or not laboring men and their depending 
families have any rights that unscrupulous shylocks. wielding capital as 
scourge, will be compelled to respect. 

The principles that so urgently demand our attention may be consider- 
ed peculiarly American, and hence the name Americans would seem ap- 
propriate for our members. But we will not be particular about this, 
unity of action is of first importance, and if there is a name, that more 
than any other will tend to neutralize old party whims and prejudice, 
and be more likely to induce all other industrial organizations to prompt- 
ly unite with us in casting votes for mutual benefit and protection, that's 
the one for us. And now with no feeling of vindictiveness or desire to 
in any way injure those who choose to criticise or oppose us, let us press 
forward in the right and in the way that w r e believe will ultimately result 
in good to all. 




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